In mid-April, tens of thousands of people in Khanh Hoa and neighboring provinces flocked to the Am Chua national relic site (Dien Dien commune) to attend the Am Chua festival - one of the largest Mother Goddess worshiping festivals in the South Central region.
This year's festival takes place from April 17 to 19 (ie March 1-3 of the lunar calendar), with more than 150 pilgrimage groups registered to participate, expected to attract about 20,000 people.
This is the opening festival for a series of Mother Goddess worshiping activities in the third lunar month, a time popularly known as "Mother's Spirit Month".
Immediately after the opening ceremony, a long line of people entered the main hall to offer incense, the main offerings were fruits, betel and areca... simple items but imbued with traditional culture.
The solemn atmosphere mixed with sincerity clearly shows the need to return to spiritual life, praying for peace and prosperity of the people.
Mr. Pham Van Luan (resident of Ninh Hoa ward, Khanh Hoa) said that he and about 40 people in the ward were present at the Am Chua festival opening ceremony from early morning. The delegation went with traditional offerings to perform the ritual of praying for national peace and prosperity, and good harvests.
Am Chua Festival stands out with many traditional rituals including: Moc Duc ceremony (statue bathing), Tam Hien Lon ceremony, main worship ceremony, Van Mau singing, Nu Quan worship ceremony, Hau Thuong worship ceremony, incense offering ritual and shadow dance.
This is not only a religious activity but also a space to preserve the unique folk art of the locality.
According to legend, Dai An mountain is where Thien Y A Na Thanh Mau descended to earth. To commemorate the merits of the "Mother of the land" who taught people how to do business and live, people built a shrine on the mountainside.
Experiencing historical upheavals, especially war, Am Chua was heavily damaged and restored in 1987. In 1999, it was ranked as a national historical and cultural relic.
Notably, Am Chua is a clear proof of the Vietnamese - Cham cultural intersection. The belief in worshiping Thien Y A Na originated from the Cham goddess Po Nagar, which was later received, Vietnamized and developed into a Mother Goddess worship system with its own identity. This harmony is shown through architecture, rituals and even the arrangement of worship in the relic.
In terms of architecture, Am Chua is located on a land of "forever water, after mountains", facing East, a choice that brings the meaning of welcoming sunlight, while also showing similarity to Ba Po Nagar Tower.
The worship system includes many items such as Tam Quan, Ngu Hanh Temple, Son Lam Temple and the main hall, in which the main hall is the center with exquisitely carved altars.
Not only is it a pilgrimage site, Am Chua is also associated with historical traces of the resistance war against France, with a system of solid bunkers. These traces contribute to enriching the historical value of the relic.
Today, along with Ba Tower, Am Chua has become two typical Mother Goddess worship centers of Khanh Hoa, associated with the folk saying: "Am Chua manifests himself, Ba Tower manifests itself". This connection creates a unique cultural and religious whole, contributing to preserving the identity and spiritual life of the local community.
