Nghe An: Preventing superstitious activities during New Year festivals

After nearly 3 years of being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the number of tourists going to pagodas at the beginning of the year is much higher than previous years. At Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (Hung Thinh Commune - Hung Nguyen District), since the first day of Tet, about 12,000 tourists have come to visit and burn incense to pray for a peaceful new year. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

The number of visitors after Tet continues to increase, mostly from many northern provinces and cities, and is expected to last until the end of January. From the three-entrance gate and the main halls, many areas of Ong Hoang Muoi Temple have been beautifully decorated to serve domestic and foreign tourists. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Currently, more than 70 stalls selling goods near the Ong Hoang Muoi temple area have been moved to a new planning area, outside the relic area to avoid chaos and chaos. However, after Tet, due to the increase in the number of tourists, there are still small tables serving ceremonies and taking notes for tourists. The representative of the Management Board also said that these mobile service tables can only be used before the 15th day of the lunar calendar, after which they will be required not to be organized near the temple area to bring a quiet and airy space to the relic. Photo: My Ha

All the shops around the temple area sell offerings to serve tourists in need. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

According to folklore, the temple worships the god Hoang Muoi, who has the merit of protecting the country and protecting the community, and is respected by people everywhere. In addition, the temple also worships a number of lucky gods such as: Mau Tu Phu, Song Dong Ngoc Nu... The number of visitors to the temple at the beginning of the year is very large, so during the ceremony, it is inevitable that there will be jostling and crowding. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Talking with Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong Thanh - Head of the Department of Culture of Hung Nguyen district - Head of the Management Board of Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Relic Site, it is known that: During the New Year, Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Relic Site organizes to welcome visitors to spiritual and cultural activities all days of the week, 24/24 hours and prioritizes visitors to pilgrimage, worship, and visit the temple. The organization of the spirit mediumship will have a separate schedule but is expected to be held after the Full Moon of January so as not to affect the visitors' pilgrimage. To ensure safety and security at the relic site, in 2023, the Management Board will strengthen the inspection of kiosk services in implementing civilized lifestyles, direct the operation of parking teams to ensure security and order and avoid congestion, not serve food and drink, and receive blessings from the group of visitors. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Before and after Tet, the number of visitors coming to worship, give thanks and pray for peace in the new year at Hong Son Temple (Vinh City) is also very crowded with about 2,000 visitors/day, twice as high as previous years. Photo: My Ha

This year, the temple has created all conditions for tourists and monks to perform ceremonies at the temple. However, to avoid abuse of spiritual services and solicitation of tourists, the temple requires those selling offerings at the temple not to arbitrarily raise prices or force tourists to buy many offerings, said Mr. Ho Ba Tien - Deputy Head of the Hong Son Temple Management Board. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

The commitment to practice assisting in the New Year's ritual activities is strictly implemented, the temple publicly announces the price list of services to avoid confusion and limit commercialization. In early 2023, the temple also discovered a number of violations of regulations and promptly requested correction. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Before the New Year, Hong Son Temple was renovated and some new items were built such as the upper hall, the middle hall, and two houses for the worshippers. The total cost of the renovation was more than 11 billion VND, taken from socialized sources and donations. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Visitors to the temple at the beginning of the year are required to follow the temple's regulations, avoid jostling and pushing, and warn against taking advantage of crowds to pickpocket and steal property. Photo: Dinh Tuyen