Upholding the beauty of the "first full moon of lunar New Year" festival

This year, the “first full moon of the lunar New Year” festival in Thu Dau Mot city with the center of Thien Hau Lady Temple festival takes place under "new normal" conditions, in compliance with principles of ensuring safety on Covid-19 prevention and control. Although the number of visitors is not as many as in other years, Binh Duong still have many free activities for locals and visitors during this year's festive season.

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In the midst of the hot afternoon sun, nearly 15 members from Dinh Van Tan's extended family in Phu Cuong ward’s quarter 2 in Thu Dau Mot city still enthusiastically provided free services for visitors participating in the “first full moon of the lunar New Year” at Thien Hau Lady temple in Hoa Phu ward.

Free voluntary activities have become the typical beauty of the “first full moon” of the lunar New Year” festival

Mr. Tan said that on the annual procession of Thien Hau lady's palanquin, his family all participate in free services for pilgrims. This year, the procession of Thien Hau lady’s palanquin in Phu Cuong ward is not organized, but members of his extended family have further contributed to serving pilgrims. This year, his extended family has provided pilgrims with 45 liters of coffee, 280 liters of salted lemonade, 3,600 bottles of mineral water and thousands of cold towels. “…We are happy to participate in providing free services for pilgrims. We feel joyful when seeing pilgrims have drinking water, cold towels to wipe their sweat...."

Tran Anh Tuyet, a member of the “Milk of Love” group from Phu Cuong ward’s Red Cross Society said that this year, on January 14 and 15, her group has continued to cooking soy milk free of charge for those  visiting temples and pagodas in Phu Cuong ward. In addition to soy milk cooked by members, the group has also received 300 boxes of wet cakes and 300 bottles of aloe water from donors. In addition, the city’s Red Cross Society also serves free cold towels and mineral water for pilgrims during this period.

She shared: "People in Binh Duong are inherently affectionate. The free service activities through many festive seasons have left beautiful impressions on visitors near and far. Therefore, this year, members of the “Milk of love” group in Phu Cuong ward continue realizing the program. We just hope to bring glasses of sweet and fragrant milk to visitors in the hot weather, energizing them when participating in the festival and they will continue returning to Binh Duong in the following festive seasons...".

Further promoting the spirit of "free festival"

"Free festival" is a typical phrase that many visitors near and far often refer to when they have the opportunity to participate in the Thien Hau Lady Temple festival on the full moon of January in Thu Dau Mot city. This year, due to being affected by Covid-19 pandemic, the festival’s activities in the city are also simpler. The number of pilgrims is less than other previous years, but free services for them are still maintained.

Accordingly, many services such as giving pilgrims free food, water, motorbike repair services…have been registered to perform by mass organizations in Thu Dau Mot city during this year's festive season. Nguyen Thu Cuc, Chairwoman of Thu Dau Mot city’s People's Committee said that on January 13, 14 and 15 of lunar calendar, the city has arranged forces to distribute incense and money trees free of charge to pilgrims. During the two peak days of January 14 and 15 of the lunar calendar, the People's Committee of Phu Cuong ward will also arrange 2 free parking lots at Nguyen Du primary school (next to Thien Hau Lady temple) and at the vacant lot opposite to Phu Cuong cathedral. The local people along streets, namely CMT8, Thich Quang Duc, Yersin…, are also encouraged to organize free food and water giving points for pilgrims these days.

Tran Vinh An, Pernament Deputy Head of the Executive Board of Thien Hau Lady Temple said that since January 10 of lunar calendar, the Executive Board has arranged a force to be on duty and distribute incense free of charge to pilgrims. “From January 10 onwards, it is expected that the number of pilgrims will increase. Therefore, we have worked with the city’s Youth Union and volunteers to distribute incense free of charge to pilgrims to limit invitation with insistence in front of the temple gate. This will contribute to ensuring fire safety, protection of the environment and health while combating against invitation with insistence,  causing disorder and loss of beauty in front of the temple gate.

For many years, the "free festival" in Binh Duong on the occasion of the full first moon of the lunar New Year in Thu Dau Mot city has left many good impressions on visitors near and far. Although not being as vibrant as previous years, the beautiful charity images and free services this year from organizations, individuals have shown the spirit of solidarity and gratitude of people in Binh Duong.

"Free festival" is a typical phrase that many visitors near and far often refer to when they have the opportunity to participate in the Thien Hau Lady Temple festival on the full moon of January in Thu Dau Mot city. Many services such as giving pilgrims free food, water, motorbike repair services…have been registered to perform by mass organizations in Thu Dau Mot city during this year's festive season.

Reported by Hong Thuan-Translated by Kim Tin