Ba Den Mountain
Ba Den mountain – a nice and high mountain amid southern plain, 11 kilometers far from Tay Ninh town – is a celebrated landscape making anyone who used to have the opportunity to come to Tay Ninh once can help calling in at.
Ba mountain is situated between two rivers Vam Co Dong and Sai Gon. Its peak is 996m high from the sea level covered by white clouds. Around the side of the mountain are sparkling streams, many stepping-stones are arranged cumulatively creating the step in the mountain. Also in Tay Ninh, Dau Tieng Lake – the nicest, biggest and most modern hydraulic engineering in our country now also is located. And from the Ba Den mountain, just climbing to mid – mountain, visitors can observe the whole construction of Dau Tieng Lake.
The Spring Festival on Ba Den Mountain
The Spring Festival on Ba Den Mountain is a cultural and religious event that takes place every year in Tay Ninh province, Vietnam. The festival celebrates the legend of Ba Den, a beautiful woman who sacrificed herself to protect her love and became the goddess of the mountain. The festival attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists who come to worship at the temples, pagodas, and shrines on the mountain, and enjoy the natural scenery and cultural activities.
The festival lasts for about two weeks, from the 4th to the 16th of the first lunar month. The main day of the festival is the 18th night and 19th morning of the first lunar month, when the most solemn and festive rituals are performed.
On the days of the festival, the monks of highest ranks in Ba Den Temple carry out the Moc Duc Ceremony at midnight, when the amount of light in the main hall is lowest. As Moc Duc means “To bathe the Goddess”, the monks use incense-imbued towels to wash the statue of the Black Virgin. The water used in this ceremony is made from lotus, jasmine, cinnamon, etc. The washing procedure is then carried out by young girls. Dressing in the most beautiful costumes like those of a princess, they dance in pair and slowly walk into the hall while the ceremony music is being played in the background. After that, they carefully wash and change the costume of the statue. When everything is done, the monks worship the Goddess, asking for her protection and care before announcing the official beginning of the festival.
In addition to formal visiting and worshiping activities at Tay Ninh Ba Den Mountain, during the Spring Festival days on Ba Den mountain, there are also very exciting and bustling activities taking place.
- Taking a cable car ride to the top of the mountain, where they can admire the panoramic view of the surrounding area and visit the Ba Temple, the Ha Temple, the Trung Pagoda, and other sacred sites
- Watching or joining the cultural performances, such as folk singing, golden tray dance, Xa Dam drum, Tay Ninh dance, and rap scenes. The performances showcase the unique and diverse traditions and customs of the South and the Central Highlands.
- Exploring the ecological and historical attractions of the mountain, such as the God spring, the Cham Lake, the Ong Lon Tra Vong temple, the Quan Ngua yard, and the tattooed women of the Katu ethnic group.
- Tasting the local cuisine and specialties, such as banh trang phoi suong (dew-soaked rice paper), banh canh cha ca (fish cake noodle soup), banh xeo (sizzling pancake), and che ba mau (three-color dessert).
The Ba Den Mountain has long been a symbol of Tay Ninh. It has always held an important position in the history of the region and the country. The Spring Festival on Ba Den Mountain is not only a religious event but it is also a token of the deep cultural values of Tay Ninh. The festival is also a place in which the younger generations can socialize and learn about the older generations. As a result, the Nui Ba Historical and Cultural Complex has been receiving many visitors from many parts of the country and the world every year.
Vietnam warmly welcomes you to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine and culture and to make your trip go smoothly as the very first step, make your plan into reality by obtaining a Vietnam visa at https://www.vietnam-evisa.org.