Ba Chua Xu Temple at Sam Mountain is located in the Sam Mountain Scenic Relic Area complex (Sam Mountain Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang) which has been ranked as a national historical and cultural relic along with Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum. , Hang Pagoda and Tay An Pagoda in the relic complex.
Every year, millions of tourists come to Ba Chua Xu Temple to pray for luck and peace
Associated with the Ba Chua Xu Temple relic on Sam mountain is the unique national Ba Chua Xu festival on the 4th lunar month every year. In the series of rituals of this festival, the Ba Chua Xu bathing ritual can be considered one of the most unique, solemn and awaited rituals by the people, usually taking place at 0:00 on the 23rd day of the 4th lunar month. with main activities, including: preparing water to bathe the Lady, bathing the Lady and changing her robe.
During the Ba bathing ritual, the bath water is prepared very thoughtfully and thoroughly in advance. Bath water must be boiled with 9 types of fresh, naturally fragrant flowers, then cooled and filtered for purity.
The Ba bathing ceremony is very solemn and respectful. The entire altar of Ba Chua Xu, the main hall in the temple, will be covered with velvet curtains and 9 selected women will take turns performing the bathing ritual. Everything took place in the sincerity, solemnity, and respect of the person conducting the ceremony and those witnessing the ceremony. The spreading scent of smoke mixed with the fragrance of perfume, along with the respect of those attending the ceremony, created a magical space for the ceremony. In addition, during the Ba Chua Xu festival in Sam Mountain, many other solemn activities take place, attracting tens of thousands of people from all over the country to Chau Doc to participate.
Therefore, the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national festival in 2001 and in 2014 was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Currently, the Government is submitting to UNESCO a dossier to recognize the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This affirms the festival’s position in the spiritual life and religious activities of the community not only in the South but also in the entire Vietnamese people and has a connection with the international community.
The space to worship Ba Chua Xu is very solemn at Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain
Mr. Nguyen Khanh Hiep, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang province, said: “An Giang province is focusing on preserving recognized national intangible heritages, including the Ba Chua Xu festival. Sam Mountain is very unique, cannot be found anywhere else, to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Ba Chua Xu Temple is located in the Sam Mountain Relics and Scenic Area complex, which was upgraded by the province to the status of national monument. listed as a special national monument, in order to promote the values of this relic site to develop tourism and contribute to the local socio-economic development.”
Information from the People’s Committee of An Giang province said that by the end of March 2024, the whole province is estimated to welcome 4.1 million visitors and tourists, an increase of 2.5% over the same period in 2023 and reaching 46% of the plan. 2024. Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated to reach 4,500 billion VND, an increase of 80% over the same period and 73% of the yearly plan.
