Right from the days near the Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a telegram on strengthening measures to ensure safety during and after Tet for cultural, sports and tourism activities to the People's Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces. Accordingly, the province has guided and directed the local tourist sites, religious facilities to set up plans organizing activities to ensure Covid-19 prevention and control under the regulations. For traditional festivals, they will have no festive activities, only organize rituals...
In the spirit of Covid-19 prevention and control, localities in the province have limited the organization of festivals in the early Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022. Especially, during the “First Full Moon of the Lunar New Year” festival, with the motto of "Safe, flexible adaptation, effective control to Covid-19 pandemic", religious establishments are not allowed to organize festive activities, but still maintain ceremonies to meet people’s needs of culture and belief. For example, the Management Board of Thien Hau Lady Temple in Thu Dau Mot city does not hold the procession of her palanquin like in previous years. However, the Management Board of Thien Hau Lady Temple still opens from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (starting from January 25) to serve the needs of pilgrims everywhere. On the 1st, 14th and 15th days of the lunar month, it opens from 6 am to 21 pm. The Management Board also noted that along with strictly following the "5K" message of the Ministry of Health, pilgrims need to install the PC-Covid App on smart phones to facilitate the QR-Code scanning and medical declaration. Besides, it propagandizes, mobilizes pilgrims to implement the "5K" message, reminding them to be careful to protect their personal property, maintain security and order, realize fire prevention-fighting, and limit mass gatherings...
Over the past time, religious establishments in the province cooperated with local authorities to well perform Covid-19 prevention and control. For the festival in the early spring to be safe, in addition to religious establishments, we hope that people will continue joining hands in Covid-19 prevention and control, preserving and upholding the nation’s fine cultural values so that the “First Full Moon of the Lunar New Year” festival in Binh Duong continues being a civilized and meaningful festival, leaving many beautiful imprints in the hearts of visitors.
For a long time, the festival in the early spring is considered a traditional cultural feature of Vietnam, becoming an indispensable need in the cultural life of the community. However, amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, many festivals were suspended or downsized to ensure people’s health and life over the past two years.
Reported by K.Tan-Translated by Kim Tin
