Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival - Cultural Elegance of Binh Duong

Where and when does the Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival take place? This is a question on the minds of many travelers. Not only is it the largest festival for the Chinese community in Vietnam, but it's also a major attraction for tourists visiting Binh Duong. Let's explore the details of the Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival in Binh Duong with Mytour!

Introduction to Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival

The Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival is a cultural and religious beauty in the spiritual life of the people of Binh Duong and neighboring areas. Let's look at some general information about this festival below.

Legend of Ba Thien Hau

Ba Thien Hau, known as Mi Chau, was born in 960 during the Yuan Dynasty in Fujian province, China. From birth, she radiated a mysterious glow and fragrance. The legend of Ba Thien Hau is deeply connected to the birth of the Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival in Binh Duong.

The legend tells that Bà Thiên Hậu once displayed extraordinary abilities while sitting beside her mother, weaving fabric, to save her father and two brothers from a storm. Unfortunately, her attempt to answer her mother's call resulted in her father being swept away, and she could only rescue her two brothers.

In the year Canh Dần (1110), Bà was honored by the king with the title 'Thiên Hậu Holy Mother.' Since then, whenever fishermen's boats faced peril at sea, their families came to worship Bà for safety from storms and a safe return. Thus, the Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival was born, highlighting a noble-hearted Chinese woman with virtues who sacrificed for others.

Meaning of Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival

To express deep gratitude for Bà's protection, Chua Ba Thien Hau was built, and an annual festival was organized to remember her kindness. The purpose of the festival is to acknowledge her benevolence and encourage future generations to have noble hearts and contribute to the community. The Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival not only represents a cultural activity for the Chinese community but also attracts international visitors to the temple in Binh Duong each year for peace and blessings.

Time and Venue of Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival

Every Tet, as spring arrives, Chua Ba Thien Hau becomes a familiar destination for people in the South. It hosts one of the largest festivals in this region. Let's explore the time and venue of the Chua Ba Festival right away!

Time

The Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival holds an annual procession starting from midnight on the 14th to the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. During this time, numerous international tourists come for pilgrimage and participate in the festival. People not only from Binh Duong but also from neighboring provinces come here to pray for peace, health, and prosperity.

Venue

Where does the Chua Ba Thien Hau Festival take place? It happens right at Chua Ba Thien Hau in Binh Duong. This is one of the oldest temples built by the Chinese community in the ancient land of De Ngan. Today, Ba Temple is a place of worship for the majority of Vietnamese-Chinese in Binh Duong and neighboring provinces. The Ba Thien Hau Temple is located at 4 Nguyen Du Street, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province.

The Enchanting Rituals of Bà Thiên Hậu Festival

The festival unfolds with numerous rituals, deeply rooted in the beliefs of the Vietnamese-Chinese community. Captivating cultural elements grace the event, commencing with the ceremonial opening invocation. Following is a solemn ode in Cantonese, praising the virtuous deeds and expressing heartfelt gratitude to Bà Thiên Hậu.

On the 15th day of the Bà Thiên Hậu Festival in Bình Dương, the highlight is the grand procession of Bà. People will parade the deity around Thủ Dầu Một city, accompanied by lively performances of lion and dragon dances, flag bearers, and more. The surrounding residents joyously prepare offerings, praying for blessings as the procession passes by their homes.

Finally, on the night of the 22nd, the ceremonial bathing of Bà takes place. Transitioning to the 23rd, a second procession of Bà occurs. The community parades the statue through the temple's nearby streets amidst the festive atmosphere, with dragon and lion dances, ethnic music ensembles, and more.

Tips for Participating in Bà Bình Dương Temple Festival

After exploring the location and timing of the Bà Thiên Hậu Festival, for a meaningful and complete spring journey, pocket these travel insights and considerations:

Getting to Bà Temple

If you're starting from Saigon, there are two options to reach Bà Thiên Hậu Temple:

• Option 1: Travel along Trường Chinh - Hanoi Highway to Xa Lộ Đại Hàn, then onto Lê Văn Khương – Hà Duy Phiên/TL9. Continue on CMT8 (Thủ Dầu Một) and turn onto Nguyễn Du Street to reach the temple.
• Option 2: Follow Trường Chinh - Hanoi Highway to Xa Lộ Đại Hàn, then take Tô Ngọc Vân Street (Thạnh Xuân), Hà Huy Giáp Street, and follow CMT8 (Thủ Dầu Một) before turning onto Nguyễn Du Street leading to Bà Thiên Hậu Temple.

Key Considerations for Attending the Festival

When visiting and participating in the Bà Thiên Hậu Festival in Bình Dương, keep in mind the following points:

Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu, a place of spiritual significance, exudes solemnity. Hence, dress modestly and appropriately for your visit.

The festival at Chùa Bà attracts a diverse crowd from Bình Dương and beyond. Therefore, be mindful of securing your belongings to avoid theft during the festivities.

Maintain order, refrain from picking flowers, breaking branches, and littering within the temple premises.

To save costs, you can prepare your own offerings for joss sticks or purchase them at the temple entrance. Additionally, bring your own food and drinks.

Use insect repellent and sunscreen during the celebration.

For a joyful and complete festival experience, remember to take care of your skin and health, as well as those accompanying you. Explore convenient beauty and health products at Mytour:

Commitment

Thus, this Mytour article provides readers with a brief overview of the Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu festival in Bình Dương, addressing questions about its location and timing. These insights aim to enhance your experience at this grand festival! As the festive season approaches, wishing you meaningful and exciting journeys.

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