Preserving the soul of the sea opening ceremony amidst modern life
In the first days of the year, at My A fishing villages (Tra Cau ward), Sa Huynh (Sa Huynh ward) and many coastal localities in the province, the launching ceremony for the first fishing of the year is solemnly organized, imbued with the meaning of the coastal village.
The ceremony part takes place respectfully with rituals of worshiping and offering incense to pray for national peace and prosperity, calm seas, and prosperous fishing grounds. In neat traditional costumes, fishermen solemnly stand before the ancestral altar, sending wishes for safe trips, full of shrimp and fish.
Continuing the sacred atmosphere is the vibrant festival part. Ba Trao singing and Sac Bua singing melodies echo in the sound of waves, vividly recreating the rhythm of labor at sea. The sound of khoan, the bustling rhythm seem to add motivation to fishermen before departure. The sea gate in spring days is therefore more bustling, both joyful and imbued with traditional identity.
With a coastline of about 130km, owning many seaports and traditional fishing grounds rich in resources, Quang Ngai has long formed communities of residents closely associated with the sea. The sea is not only a source of life but also a cultural space that nurtures the character of people in the waves. Through many generations, the sea opening ritual at the beginning of the year has been preserved as a sacred spiritual value of the fishing village, becoming a persistent beauty in the spiritual life of fishermen.
Therefore, the ceremony is not simply a religious activity but also an opportunity for people to reunite, remember their predecessors who explored fishing grounds and taught marine occupations. In that space, each person becomes more aware of the responsibility of continuing traditions, firmly standing before the changes of modern life.
Old fisherman Nguyen Xet (71 years old), head of Hai Tan fishing village, Tra Cau ward shared that the first sea opening ceremony of the year helps people to be more steadfast before going to sea. According to him, the sea is sometimes gentle but also many times harsh; consensus and faith are the support to overcome storms.
Spiritual support for long voyages
In fact, the journey of making a living in the open sea always contains many challenges. Long sea trips facing erratic weather require fishermen to be experienced and brave. Besides carefully preparing fishing gear, fuel, and food, they also prepare themselves with a ready spirit. The launching ceremony is that spiritual support, adding willpower for each ship to set sail in a proactive and determined mindset.
Fisherman Le Tan Toi (56 years old) in Sa Huynh ward shared that although boats today have been modernly invested and more fully equipped than before, the New Year ritual is still maintained. It is not only a custom left by our ancestors but also a bond connecting the community, reminding each person about responsibility to the profession and to the sea.
In the context of the increasingly developing marine economy, the exploitation method is gradually shifting towards professionalism and sustainability, the launching ceremony is still solemnly organized year by year. This shows that tradition is not fading but continues to go hand in hand with a new pace of development.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh - Chairman of Sa Huynh Ward People's Committee said that Sa Huynh has more than half of the population making a living by fishing, farming and processing seafood with more than 1,200 boats, of which over 600 are offshore fishing vessels. The marine economy is therefore identified as the pillar of the locality. According to him, the launching ceremony is not only culturally meaningful but also an opening activity for a new production year, creating a vibrant emulation atmosphere and encouraging fishermen to improve exploitation efficiency, reach out to sea and stick to the sea.
Each early spring sea trip is therefore not only meaningful for livelihood but also shows the awareness of preserving traditional crafts and the responsibility to protect sea and island sovereignty. When Quang Ngai ships move towards the fishing grounds, the red flag with a yellow star flying in the ocean becomes a symbol of pride and the desire to stick to the sea steadfastly.
