The burning of votive paper has been restricted at temples in Nghe An province during the Lunar New Year.
During the Lunar New Year and the first days of spring, spiritual tourism destinations in Nghe An always welcome a large number of tourists and locals who come to visit and worship. However, unlike previous years, this year's Year of the Snake (2015) saw a noticeable change as the practice of burning votive paper has gradually been reduced.
At the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (Hung Thinh commune, Hung Nguyen district), the scene has changed considerably in these early spring days. While in the past, it was easy to spot giant paper horses lined up waiting to be offered as sacrifices and burned, that sight has now become rare.
According to representatives of the temple management board, people have long believed that Ông Hoàng Mười was a talented general who needed a horse to charge into battle, so many worshippers do not hesitate to buy large paper horses to pray for peace, wealth, and prosperity. However, this is not only costly but also poses a risk of fire and environmental pollution.
Aiming for a more civilized religious culture, since 2024, the temple management board has implemented many measures such as replanning the sales area, tightening service activities, and especially strengthening daily public awareness campaigns through the loudspeaker system. These gentle but persistent messages have gradually changed people's perceptions. As a result, this year's Tet (Lunar New Year) saw a significant reduction in the burning of votive paper, creating a more serene atmosphere for the historical site.
This change is not only observed at Ong Hoang Muoi Temple, but also at Qua Son Temple (Boi Son commune, Do Luong district). After the Lunar New Year, the number of pilgrims, while not as crowded as in the early days of the year, is still quite lively. However, instead of elaborate offerings of votive paper and thick incense smoke, people now prefer simpler offerings with very little votive paper.
Nevertheless, in the service area of the temple, the activity of writing prayers for warding off bad luck is still quite bustling. According to a representative of the temple management board, only the service of writing prayers is offered here; they do not organize rituals for warding off bad luck like many other places, and the service fee is entirely at the discretion of visitors.
Ms. Phan Phuoc Lan, a tourist from Vinh City, shared: "As I understand it, offering prayers to ward off bad luck is an Eastern custom with profound humanistic meaning. Therefore, when I came to Qua Son Temple, I wrote a prayer to the stars simply to pray for a peaceful year."
Here are some photos from Ong Hoang Muoi Temple and Qua Son Temple:
