Vietnam's spirit mediums revive once forbidden ritual

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Cross-dressed in bright silk garments and dancing with candles between his fingers, Nguyen Duy Nam leads a temple of worshippers in a ceremony honouring mystical goddesses of forest, water and heaven.

Nam is one of a growing number of spirit mediums who perform the Hau Dong ritual of blaring noise and vibrant colours, now enjoying a resurgence after once being banned by the ruling Communist Party.

“It's like an illusion, like a soul has taken over my body,” says the 24-year-old, who works in a garage in capital Hanoi when he is not performing Hau Dong.

Dating to the 16th century, Hau Dong centres on a belief in the “mother goddesses” of three realms: forest, water and heaven. It draws from elements of Taoism, Buddhism and animism.

During rituals, spirit mediums dance to loud folk music while appearing to transform themselves into different characters from legend and history. They display changing personalities as if different spirits have entered their bodies.

Sometimes they say it feels real. “One time I couldn't even move my body and just cried for no reason, but then I returned to normal when the next character came,” says Nam.

Spread on the floor are offerings for the goddesses and the spirits, which can be anything from money to instant noodles to big paper horses.

“It’s for every class of society, from rich to poor, from officials to citizens and from the mountain to the plain,” says architect and researcher Doan Ky Thanh.

Thanh adds the appeal of the ritual broadened as it could attract participants of either gender.

Hau Dong’s status was reaffirmed last year when it was recognised by Unesco as an item of lntangible Cultural Heritage.

In 2005, the Communist Party lifted a ban on Hau Dong, which until then it had regarded as superstitious. Interest in the ritual has since grown, as economic liberalisation has brought greater wealth and social openness.

Hau Dong is not predominantly about money, but offerings to the spirits and temples can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single ceremony.

Although the state frowns on wasting money, sponsoring a ceremony can be a status symbol.

Nam said after being called by the saints to become a medium he had given up the reckless lifestyle of his youth. That spurred him to work hard in his daily occupation. Now he owns two garages.

He is dedicated to continuing as a medium, whatever anyone thinks of him dressing as a woman and summoning the spirits. For now, only his close family know it’s part of his life.

“It’s my lifetime duty,” he said.