Many families "burn" tens of millions of dong following the custom of burning votive paper.
(Baonghean.vn) - With the belief that through burning votive paper, the deceased will receive and use it in the "other world", over time, this practice has become a popular custom, even increasingly distorted.
Every year, at the beginning of spring, many Vietnamese people go to pagodas to pray for luck and fortune in the new year. Photo: Thanh Cuong
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| Accordingly, many offerings including votive paper were offered to show respect. The votive paper was of various types and forms, from human effigies to mansions, cars, household items, "horses", "elephants"... taller than real people. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Depending on what the believer wants to pray for, what the believer wants to pray for, the offerings will be more or less. In fact, many families spend from a few million to tens of millions of dong on buying offerings to burn votive paper. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| After the ceremony, the votive paper will be burned. People believe that by burning votive paper (including houses, cars, money, gold, even TVs, phones...), their ancestors will receive and use it in the other world. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| A woman burns votive paper at Hong Son Temple (Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Transformed into a "horse" at Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (Hung Nguyen). Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| The Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has just issued an official dispatch requesting Buddhists to eliminate the custom of burning votive paper at Buddhist places of worship. According to this dispatch, the burning of votive paper at Buddhist places of worship and other forms of burning are contrary to Vietnamese customs, national culture and Buddhist culture. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
