In the afternoon of Feb.14, tens of thousands of people inside and outside of the province and Vietnamese overseas gathered around streets in the hub of Phu Cuong ward, Thu Dau Mot city to participate in the ceremony of Thien Hau Saint Mother palanquin procession in a bid to pray for health, luckiness and prosperousness in life.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors join in Lady Pagoda Festival 2014.

Before joining in the palanquin procession, many families, young people and Vietnamese overseas offered incenses and visited Thien Hau Lady Temple in Binh Duong New City, Bung Cau Lady Pagoda in Dinh Hoa ward after that they visited Ong Ngua and Linh Khong Dan Temples. The local functional agencies said that tens of thousands of people participated in the palanquin procession ceremony. Especially, this year's Thien Hau Saint Mother palanquin procession coincided with Valentine Day, so many young people both participated in the palanquin procession ceremony and marked the Valentine Day. Besides, the procession took place on Friday afternoon, bringing advantages for students and laborers and people everywhere. A group of young laborers said "We are from the Northern province of Phu Tho and working for a company in Thuan Giao ward, Thuan An town. We have often joined in the palanquin procession and realized that the palanquin procession ceremony takes place solemnly and safely and orderly". The Lady Carriage or Palanquin Procession takes place early on Thursday afternoon. It is the most anticipated activity of the event and travels from the pagoda around the town. A banner with the four letters – Thien Hau Xuat Du (heavenly queen going out), is followed by a Hau dancing group of Fujian Chinese people. The golden fur lion Hau – marches behind the banner to drive away bad things from the previous year. The performance of the dance is very strenuous, so the dancers sometimes change positions. Carriages decorated with flowers, weapons and a banner with four letters Luc Tinh Hoi Li follow the Hau dancers. The banner Luc Tinh Hoi Li, which means the association of six provinces, is displayed to show respect for the other provinces with Lady Pagodas which agreed to hold the festival in Thu Dau Mot city. Before the Lady’s palanquin appears, there is a rites ceremony followed by a procession of dragons, kylin dances, fairies, nymphs and well-known saints. There are often displays with children dressed in old fashioned high-society clothes. Carrying the Lady is an honor, so the bearers are chosen from all four Chinese colonies in the town. Beside the Lady Palanquin are Kylin dancing groups and the Earth God of Guangdong people, which protect her and the four representatives of the Chinese colonies. The festival ends when the procession returns to the pagoda. The procession symbolises a visit from the Lady, for people to worship her and pray for happiness. Deity processions in general, in communal houses, temples and shrines, represent a way to bring supernatural powers into real life, creating a link between deities and people. They are opportunities to relax and enjoy religious and cultural traditions. The Lady Pagoda Festival is a big event for Chinese and Việtnamese people in the South. It creates opportunities to consolidate the union between the two nations through a common cultural event. Van Nguyet Anh, chairwoman of Phu Cuong ward People's Committee said thanks to provincial administration's leaders and close cooperation with public security, market control, militia, youths, unionists and people, Lady Pagoda festival 2014 took place successfully and safely. The festival organizing board in cooperation with functional agencies arranged properly parking lots and gastronomy service business areas as well as launched inspections to minimize disorder of business and society. The Lady Pagoda festival 2014 ended successfully bringing a good new year for people. Reported by B.Minh - C.Thanh - Translated by A.C