Culture
While Vietnam has no shortage of homegrown religions, the unique intersection of theater, spirituality, music, fashion, dance and poetry in a Đạo Mẫu hầu đồng ceremony helps this particular cultural practice to stand out from the rest.
“ I think the multitude of these elements in the hầu đồng ceremonies is what makes this spiritual tradition so unique,” El-Sawy says.“ In contrast with other religious traditions which are, by and large, somber, dour, severe and joyless, intimidating and even menacing if believers do not abide by certain strictures, hầu đồng ceremonies are welcoming and are largely happy events. I have not seen a single scowling face in the audience in all the ceremonies I’ ve attended. The tradition is certainly about doing good and abstaining from evil, but it conveys the message differently.”
As Vietnamese officials are pushing for the Mother Goddess religion’ s hầu đồng ceremony to receive UNESCO recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, El-Sawy’ s book aims to introduce people beyond Vietnam’ s borders to the tradition.
Tewfic El-Sawy will be giving a series of photo talks in Hanoi from November 5-12 regarding his book project. Hau Dong: The Spirit Mediums of Viet Nam is available for purchase online via Blurb and Amazon. You can view more of El-Sawy’ s hầu đồng photographs here.
Photos courtesy of Tewfic El-Sawy
18 The MAG Vung Tau