Strengthening festival management
(Baonghean) -In recent times, the organization of festivals in localities has always attracted a large number of people from all walks of life to participate, thereby contributing to preserving traditional cultural values, which have a positive meaning for spiritual life. However, not all festivals create a good impression, but there are still many distorted and negative activities... Entering this year's festival season, the Department of Culture and localities organizing festivals are taking steps to rectify this.
In previous years, during the festival season, superstitious practices, fortune telling, spirit possession, card shaking, burning of votive paper, begging; inadequacies in traffic order, pickpocketing, environmental sanitation, loud speakers in sacred places, parking, selling goods at high prices... occurred in most places where festivals were held, reducing the beauty and cultural values of the festivals.
It is not difficult to recognize the causes of distorted activities and negative phenomena: First of all, the space for organizing festivals is limited but the number of visitors is too large, causing chaos, traffic jams, creating conditions for traders to raise service prices; Due to competition in organizing festivals among localities, there is an imbalance between investment resources and organizational efficiency. Besides, the impact of the negative side of the market has led to misconceptions about the purpose of organizing festivals, and pragmatism has spread to organizers and sponsors. Some places consider festival relics as local benefits, only focusing on exploiting economic values, fading the cultural identity of the festival. In many places, the Organizing Committee, to varying degrees, has imposed a number of available scenarios, reducing the initiative and creativity of the people - the subject of the festival. On the people's side, the culture of communication and behavior during the festival is still weak, and the sense of responsibility of tourists is poor, such as littering and burning votive paper money, despite the regulations of the festival organizers.
Con Temple Festival.
Entering the 2013 festival season, practical requirements show that there needs to be more practical measures to ensure security and order and preserve the good cultural features of the nation and homeland in festival activities. Mr. Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: Learning from the experience of organizing festivals in previous years, this year, the industry will send early reports on the festival organization plan to all relevant levels to have good preparation. In addition, the industry will strengthen the inspection and rectification of uncivilized and uncultured behaviors, superstitious activities, affecting the landscape and ecological environment; Rectify a number of folk festivals that are mixed, borrowed or adapted, distorting traditional rituals and festivals, fading the national identity, or the situation of setting up many altars and placing many donation boxes; Extensive propaganda to help people understand the value of festivals, the merits of famous people, protecting places of worship, protecting the landscape environment and issued festival management documents...
To establish order and civilization for the festival, the role and responsibility of local authorities and festival organizers is very important. Preparing for this year's festival season, localities have made careful preparations with the determination to strengthen management and rectify social evils and bad phenomena that occur during the festival. Mr. Ho Ngoc Dung - Vice Chairman of Quynh Luu District People's Committee, Head of the Organizing Committee of Con Temple Festival said: "To ensure security and order for the 2013 festival, the district has directed the police force to coordinate with communes such as Quynh Phuong, Quynh Di and the border guard force in the area to set up checkpoints, patrol and guard; to completely resolve traffic jams and public disorder, begging, and gambling. In particular, on the opening night, the district and the organizing committee will increase forces to avoid situations where spectators may cling to or pickpocket. Regarding fire prevention, the Organizing Committee has contracted with Hoang Mai Cement Company for 1 permanent fire truck; On the day of the boat race, the district will coordinate with the border guard boats and fishermen to ensure safety; on the shore, there will be forces to maintain order to avoid possible jostling"...
Dien Chau district also has a specific plan to ensure safety for the Cuong Temple Festival. Mr. Vo Sy Tai - Head of the district's Department of Culture and Information said: The district's plan has a specific assignment for each force and locality, accordingly, it will focus on eliminating superstitious activities; in practicing rituals, limit the indiscriminate burning of gold and incense to the lowest level; Prevent crimes such as property theft, organizing betting outside of sports activities such as cockfighting, volleyball. Carry out additional equipment for rituals; direct Dien An commune to have 10 people take care of cleaning in the temple, outside the festival yard, which will be ensured by students, cleaning at the end of the day during the festival...".
Nghi Loc District has also directed Nghi Hop Commune to plan a separate entertainment area from the area where the traditional ceremonies of the Nguyen Xi Temple Festival take place. Mr. Nguyen Khac Chat - Deputy Director of the District Cultural Center said: Separating the two areas will create good conditions for festival management as well as expanding cultural, artistic, sports activities, and folk games. This year, the district strictly prohibits gambling and games with prizes...
In reality, for the festival to take place safely and promote its inherent values, in addition to the responsibility of the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, local authorities, and festival organizers, the awareness of the people when participating is also very important. First of all, people should learn about the content of the festival, the time of organization, and the location to be proactive when participating; in addition, when coming to the festival, people must strictly comply with the regulations of the festival organizers, be aware of preserving the landscape and environment where the festival is held, as well as practice a civilized lifestyle in public places... Hopefully, with the active participation of all levels and branches, plus the awareness of the people, this year's festival season of the province will take place safely, solemnly and maintain cultural significance, creating a good impression on each participant.
Article and photos: Nguyen Thanh Chung
