Lady Thien Hau Temple Festival in Binh Duong province is not only a festival of 4 Chinese colonies in Thu Dau Mot town but a common festival for local people and pilgrims nationwide for a long time. According to the organizing board of Lady Thien Hau Temple Festival, on peak days from the 12th of lunar first month to the end of lunar first month, the number of devotees visiting to pagoda will increase sharply. The board in cooperation with local authorities ensures safety for devotees.
Pilgrims flock to Lady Thien Hau pagoda
More and more pilgrims have flocked to the pagoda, making a lively ambience in the first days of Lunar New Year. Surrounding the temple is another pagodas such as Ong Ngua, Linh Khong Dan, Hoi Khanh and so on, making a chain of pagodas right in the hub of the town. Nguyen Hong Mai from Long An province, said ‘Over the past 8 years I have visited pagodas to pray for a prosperous and happy year and Lady Thien Hau Temple is an indispensable address’.
Aside from devotees, the temple has lured numerous tourists. Therefore, it annually welcomes countless young people.
Security strengthened
It is difficult to solve dependant services in the festival. Do Minh Quang, vice chairman of Phu Cuong ward People’s Committee said right in the evening of lunar Dec. 30, the ward strengthened inspections to dismiss beggars in the front of the temple gate. On peak days, local policemen make patrols across routes leading to the pagoda.
The ward public security alone set out plans to minimize pickpocketing. Le Ngoc Thuy, vice head of the ward public security, said ‘we in cooperation with neighboring wards control temporary residency situation across boarding houses, hotels right from lunar Dec.’
Ensuring safety for palanquin festival
This year’s palanquin festival falls into weekend, so functional forces jointly boost inspections on the festival. Besides, the forces actively allocate routes to minimize traffic jams before, during and after the palanquin festival.
Luu Cam, head of Guangdong Colony cum head of the Thien Hau Temple Festival, said to ensure safety for tourists, the organizing board of the festival has boosted order security. At 3 p.m of the 15th of first lunar month, the festival’s main ritual is a procession carrying the Ba (older, respected woman) statue on a palanquin through the town. The Ba's palanquin is accompanied by dozens of dragon dance troupes from Binh Duong, HCM City, and neighboring provinces. A procession of palanquin passes main routes of Nguyen Du, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Doan Tran Nghiep, Hung Vuong and then returns to the temple.
Before 9 a.m of the 15th of lunar first month, the organizing board will hold an auction to raise funds for charity activities. Annually, the board spends about VND1bil for charity.
Reported by T.Thao – Translated by A.C
