(Baonghean.vn) - At the beginning of the year, the sacred temples and pagodas in Nghe An welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world to pray for peace and happiness for the whole year. However, even though they are in sacred places, there are still some unpleasant scenes.
 |
| Begging at temples and pagodas on New Year's Day has existed for many years. These days, long lines of beggars sit in front of temples and pagodas to ask for money from visitors. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
 |
| Beggars right in front of the gate of Can Linh Pagoda, Vinh City. The pagoda has proposed many measures to solve this problem but they have not been very effective. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
 |
| Going to pagodas and temples on the first day of the year to pray for peace, health, and to show respect and kindness toward Buddha has become a beautiful cultural trait of Vietnamese people. However, instead of offering incense and flowers, many people "offer" money. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
 |
| Although it is a sacred place, it is not difficult to see coins "offered" by visitors to the gods. For example, at Hoang Muoi Temple, although there is a sign "Do not offer money on the altar", people still ignore it and continue to show their "sincerity" by placing money on the altar. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
 |
| Some people even throw or stuff coins into the hands of statues or at the base of trees or in crevices in rocks. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
 |
| Many people jostle to get blessings and ask for luck on the first day of the year at Dai Tue Pagoda, Nam Dan. Photo: Thanh Cuong. |
 |
| Due to the large number of visitors to festivals at the beginning of the year, the management boards of many temples and pagodas often stipulate that visitors should only offer one incense stick. However, some people still "play" with the whole bundle, causing the incense smoke to billow and cause suffocation. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Thanh Cuong - Chu Thanh
