05:03, 06/03/2020

2020 Am Chua Festival and Ponagar Temple Festival proposed to be canceled

Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports sent a document to Dien Khanh District People's Committee and Khanh Hoa Provincial Monument Preservation Center on April 4, proposing cancellation of 2020 Am Chua Festival and Ponagar Temple Festival over Covid-19 concerns.
 

Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports sent a document to Dien Khanh District People’s Committee and Khanh Hoa Provincial Monument Preservation Center on April 4, proposing cancellation of 2020 Am Chua Festival and Ponagar Temple Festival over Covid-19 concerns.
 
 
Accordingly, locals and pilgrims can visit and offer incense at Am Chua and Ponagar Temple; however, flower lanterns floating, folk dancing, ritual offerings cooking, and overnight stay at the temples were proposed to be canceled. The department also proposed arranging appropriate time for locals and pilgrims to visit the temples in order to minimize mass gatherings; and complementing measures to prevent and control Covid-19 epidemic in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee.  
 
 
Pilgrims attending Ponagar Temple Festival
Pilgrims attending Ponagar Temple Festival
 
Am Chua Festival (lunar March 1-3) and Ponagar Temple Festival (lunar March 20-23) are the two ritual festivals organized annually in Khanh Hoa Province and other provinces in the southern central and highland area. These festivals are closely related with the worship of Thien Y A Na Goddess and are often organized with many ritual acts reflecting the traditional culture of Kinh and Cham people. 
 
N.T
Translated by H.N