Whale worship a way of life for Vietnam fishermen

Chau’s boat was heading back to shore after a long fishing trip when it was caught in a storm. Heavily overloaded with fish, the crew feared they would capsize.

“Then a giant whale came, swimming in front of the boat and blocking the storm so that the crew could sail back to shore,” the report said.

“The whale only swam back to sea when the fishermen got to safety. The fishermen were all so surprised, they bowed their heads in prayer to the whale as he swam away,” it added.

Unlike in other countries where whales are revered, in Vietnam the practice is based on specific incidents in the past where the giant mammals beached near local fishing communities, according to expert Sandra Lantz.

The Ca Ong religion was, for this reason, “unique” to Vietnam, said Lantz, who authored a 2009 study on whale worship printed in the Swedish Science Press.

The practice of traditional rituals such as whale worship is encouraged by communist authorities, which for decades discouraged all religious activities, before loosening restrictions in 2004.

The majority religion, Buddhist, is now openly practiced, although vocal minority groups of all faiths routinely complain of official discrimination.

Whale worshiping festivals — which celebrate the cetaceans and ask that the fishermen be blessed with bumper hauls and safe passage across the treacherous seas — have been given the official seal of approval.

A recent such event in southern Ba Ria Vung Tau was designated one of Vietnam’s “top 15 festivals” by authorities.

Ly Son islanders hope the whales could help boost their own tourist arrivals, which currently stand at about 3,000 plus a year.

The authorities plan to reassemble the skeletons and build a new temple to put them on display to attract visitors and make the community less dependent on fishing.

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