Avalokitesvara Festival in Ngu Hanh Son – Da Nang's Largest Spiritual Event

The Ngu Hanh Son Avalokitesvara Festival is held annually, lasting for three days, from the 17th to the 19th of the 2nd lunar month.

• Main date: 19th day of the 2nd lunar month (the feast day of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva).
• Location: Mainly at Quan The Am Pagoda (No. 48 Su Van Hanh Street, Ngu Hanh Son Ward, Da Nang) and other related sites within the Marble Mountains Scenic Landscape Complex (especially Quan Am Cave on Kim Son Mountain).

Origins of the festival

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) has long been considered a sacred land, closely linked to the development of Buddhism in Da Nang. The birth of the festival is associated with a mystical event:

• In Quan Am Cave (Kim Son Mountain), a natural stalactite statue of Avalokitesvara was discovered.
• In 1956, on the occasion of the inauguration of Quan The Am Pagoda (built right next to Quan Am Cave), Most Venerable Thich Phap Nhan organized the first Quan Am Festival on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month, marking the origin of the festival.
• After a period of interruption, the festival was restored and organized annually on a large scale from 1991 until today.

Spiritual significance

Belief in Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva – the Bodhisattva who always listens, protects, and saves sentient beings with compassion and benevolence – is deeply ingrained in the minds of the people, especially the fishing community, with the wish for "favorable weather and calm seas".

The festival is an occasion for Buddhists and people from all over to express reverence, perform rituals, and pray for national peace and prosperity, a peaceful and happy new year, while guiding people toward the values of Truth - Goodness - Beauty.

Originating from deep-rooted beliefs and tied to the sacred space of the Marble Mountains, the Avalokitesvara Festival in Da Nang has become an annual cultural beauty, a gathering place to honor the compassionate vows of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

The festival takes place over three days with an interplay between solemn Buddhist rituals (the Ritual Part) and lively folk cultural activities (the Festival Part). These two parts blend together to create the unique identity of the festival.

The Ritual Part: Buddhist and traditional rites

The Ritual Part is the soul of the festival, imbued with Buddhist characteristics combined with traditional rites paying tribute to origins. The main rituals take place as follows:

Solemn Buddhist rituals

• Sutra Opening, Flag Raising Ceremony (Thuong Phan – Thuong Ky): Usually held on the 17th day of the lunar month. The ritual is conducted by the Chief Officiant to offer prayers to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Devas, praying for national peace and favorable weather.
• Light Procession Ceremony (Torch Procession and Flower Lantern Release): Takes place on the evening of the 18th day of the lunar month. The procession, with the participation of hundreds of Monks and Buddhists, carries a palanquin of costumed Quan Am through streets leading to the banks of the Co Co River. The ritual prays for the light of wisdom to illuminate the path for all sentient beings to do good deeds. Afterwards is the flower lantern releasing ceremony.
• Dharma Lecture on Avalokitesvara and the Nation: Held throughout the 3 days, with the largest scale on the evening of the 18th and the afternoon of the 19th lunar day. The lectures cover Buddhist teachings, praising the compassion and benevolence of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, guiding Buddhists in practice and sharing Buddha's teachings in daily life.
• Main Ceremony – Birthday of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: Held on the 19th day of the lunar month, marking Her anniversary, considered the soul of the festival. The presiding officiant (usually a high-ranking Most Venerable) offers incense, chants prayers to remember Her virtues, and prays for the peace and happiness of all beings.
• Procession of the Statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: Carried out after the Main Ceremony. The statue is carried from inside Quan Am Cave (Kim Son Mountain) to Quan The Am Pagoda, then the palanquin is carried onto a boat moored on the Cau Bien River and sails around the Co Co River. This ritual is meant to pray for fishermen at sea and those working on the waterways to enjoy safety and good fortune.
• Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Incarnation Ritual: Performed alongside the Statue Procession. Every year, the temple selects a female Buddhist of good moral character who has practiced seriously to dress as one of the 32 manifestations of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. This reenactment aims to portray Her image so sentient beings can admire Her virtue and compassion, signifying that She is always accompanying humanity, bringing joy and relieving suffering everywhere.
• Closing Thanksgiving Ceremony of the Flower Lantern Altar: The final Buddhist ceremony, conducted on the evening of the 19th lunar day. This is a ceremony of thanksgiving to the mountains, waters, earth deities, and spirits who blessed the festival with success, followed by floating lotus-shaped candles onto the river, praying for the light of wisdom to endure forever.

Traditional folk rituals

Intertwined with Buddhist rituals are traditional rites of local people, demonstrating the moral principle of "when drinking water, remember its source":

• Spring Sacrifice Ritual: Held at Quan The Am Pagoda to offer sacrifices to the mountain, water, and earth deities, praying for national peace and prosperity.
• Incense Offering Ceremony in Memory of Princess Huyen Tran: A ritual paying tribute to those who contributed to the country.
• Sacrificial Ritual to the Stone Craft Ancestor: Held at the Stone Craft Ancestral House at the foot of Moc Son Mountain, honoring the Ancestor of Non Nuoc Stone Carving in Ngu Hanh Son.

The Festival Part: Cultural and artistic exchange

The Festival Part takes place vibrantly with high community involvement, harmoniously combining traditional and modern culture:

• Culture & Arts: Bai Choi singing, responsive Ho Khoan singing, folk songs, Tuong opera; calligraphy performances, ink wash painting exhibitions, and art photography.
• Sports & Folk Games: Activities such as lion, master lion, dragon dances, stick pushing, tug-of-war, boat racing, Chinese chess; along with competitions like guiding presentations about Marble Mountains scenic landscape, and vegetarian cooking contests.

With a harmonious blend of solemn Buddhist rituals in the Ceremonial part and lively activities in the Festival part, the Ngu Hanh Son Avalokitesvara Festival creates a colorful cultural and spiritual tapestry, fully reflecting the unique identity of Da Nang.

The Ngu Hanh Son Avalokitesvara Festival is not only a cultural and spiritual activity of the community but also plays an important role:

• Preservation and promotion: Contributing to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of Buddhism and the Vietnamese nation.
• Community connection: Creating social cohesion, nurturing a sense of goodness, and fostering gratitude (the tradition of drinking water, remembering the source).
• Tourism promotion: Becoming a unique cultural and tourism highlight of Da Nang, attracting domestic and international tourists, and contributing to affirming the city's position on the world tourism map.

In summary, the Ngu Hanh Son Avalokitesvara Festival has transcended the framework of a spiritual event to become a cultural heritage playing a vital role in preserving identity, connecting the community, and acting as an attraction for international tourists, affirming the cultural and tourism status of Da Nang city.

The Ngu Hanh Son Avalokitesvara Festival is truly a colorful spiritual tapestry. Originating from the deep spiritual devotion honoring the compassion of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the festival skillfully blends solemn Buddhist rituals with vibrant folk festivities, creating profound value in preservation and community bonding. Transcending a mere religious activity, this is a National Intangible Cultural Heritage – an impressive tourism highlight that will forever remain the pride and peaceful breath of the coastal city.