Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports sent an urgent dispatch to rectify the Huong Pagoda festival.

Immediately after the controversial incident of the monk throwing lucky money, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports sent an urgent dispatch to the Management Board of Huong Pagoda.

On the afternoon of February 3, 2017, Mr. To Van Dong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) said that this unit had signed an urgent document to send to the festival organizing committee and the management board of Huong Pagoda. "This document was also sent to the management board of relic sites that organize festivals in the early spring of Dinh Dau 2017 such as Giong Temple, Soc Son", Mr. To Van Dong said.

Mr. To Van Dong, Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports.

According to Mr. To Van Dong, this document was sent with the purpose of rectifying festival activities after the unfortunate incident that occurred at Huong Pagoda.

The Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports admitted that some festivals, although prepared in advance, still have shortcomings. Therefore, the department drafted an official dispatch in the spirit of general reminder, requesting the authorities of districts and towns to immediately rectify festival organization activities.

“In the early spring of Dinh Dau 2017, many major festivals took place in the city. Basically, localities have done a good job of propaganda, coordination in management and organization. Therefore, the festivals basically took place safely, orderly and in accordance with regulations. However, through inspection, situation assessment and reflection of the mass media, in some localities, the management and organization of festivals is still not good. Phenomena such as exchanging small denominations for profit, jostling and pushing during festivals still occur, and the arrangement of garbage collectors is still lacking, leading to untimely collection. At relic sites, the phenomenon of street vendors and soliciting customers still occurs,” the document said.

Official dispatch of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports to the festival organizing committee, the management board of Huong Pagoda and relics organizing the Spring festival Dinh Dau 2017 in Hanoi

Accordingly, to ensure the festival is held safely and overcome existing limitations, the Department of Culture and Sports requests the People's Committees of districts and towns to effectively carry out the following tasks: Upholding the role and responsibility of local authorities in directing the organization of festivals; promptly resolving and correcting any problems that arise during the festival.

Develop a detailed plan to ensure safety for activities taking place at the festival. For festivals that have a procession across the river, it is recommended that units proactively coordinate with the authorities to organize the flow of boats across the river, ensure no congestion or collisions, and arrange adequate lifebuoys, lifeboats, and rescue forces on duty during the organization.

Strengthen inspection and control of food and drinks sold at the festival site. Ensure that no food safety incidents occur, arrange for timely waste collection, and thoroughly handle any illegal business activities taking advantage of the festival.

Propose that the People's Committees of districts and towns direct specialized departments, agencies, and the festival organizing committee to strictly implement the above contents and report to the Department of Culture and Sports after the festival ends.

The controversial photo of a monk "throwing blessings". Photo: Zing.vn

In another development, also on the afternoon of February 3, speaking to the press, Mr. Nguyen Van Hau, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of My Duc District (Hanoi), Head of the Organizing Committee of the 2017 Huong Pagoda Festival, said that monk Thich Dao Tru (the person who threw the lucky money in an offensive manner at the Huong Pagoda Festival) was punished by Venerable Thich Minh Hien (Abbot of Huong Pagoda) to kneel in incense since the night of February 2. The Management Board of Huong Pagoda relic also asked monk Thich Dao Tru to repent after the above incident./.

According to VOV