For the festival of the full moon every year, Binh Duong always leaves a beautiful impression in the hearts of visitors when visiting the Mazu Goddes Temple. This year's festive season, free activities to serve pilgrims such as distributing water, food, cold towels, motorbikes, car patches etc. once again build a beautiful image of a smart, safe, and friendly festival season.
Humanity in the festival
Just entering the new year of 2019, tourists throughout the provinces and cities in the country have found their way to the Mazu Goddess Temple to worship. And the closer it was to the procession of the Lady's Communion (the 15th of the first lunar month), the more visitors came to the temple. Pilgrims come to visit the temple, the faith, the people who pray for peace, fortune, and health in the new year. With the spirit of hospitality, from local authorities to the people always create favorable conditions and have beautiful appointments to warm the guests' hearts. Ms. Le Thi Phuong in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, commented: “At the beginning of this year, I traveled many places, but Binh Duong left me a lot of beautiful impressions, because the services were free without place. Yes, people are friendly, lovely, I will return to this place next year.
In accordance with Phuong's remark, from February 16 (the 12th day of the first lunar month), the roads leading to Ba pagoda and the area near the temple have many places to serve water, free food and other services, meeting the demand for people visiting Mazu Goddess Temple. At the free service point of Thu Dau Mot City Women's Union, in the morning, they distributed 300 dumplings to visitors. In the following days, the girls plan to distribute free sticky rice, bread, and noodles, averagely 1,000 per day, while the water and cold towels will meet continuously according to the needs of the guests. In order to organize these voluntary activities, the association has received the contributions of women members, such as Ms. Truong Thi Thuy in Phu My Ward, Ms. Pham Thi Dung in Chanh Nghia.
An unnamed staff of Urban Management Department of Thu Dau Mot City gives out free water to visitors
Whenever helping someone, big or small, people with compassionate hearts will feel light and happy. Even with just a bottle of water, it is enough to leave a lasting impression on visitors when visiting Ba pagoda. Mr. Do Huu Nghia, a benefactor, for many years every January full moon supports thousands of bottles of spring water to serve people. This year alone, it is expected that he will donate about 20,000 bottles to Phu Cuong Ward Union on this occasion. He said: "I just hope that bottles of water will help pilgrims to quench thirst when the weather is intense, as well as to reduce the chances of cutting down pilgrims on such occasions."
Accompanying the full moon festival in January through the years, there is always the contribution of youth union members. Particularly with the Youth Union of Phu Cuong ward, the festival season this year organized two key points to serve incense customers. Nguyen Khanh Linh said that due to the weekends of many tourists coming to visit the country, this year you have been out earlier than the previous years. In addition to incense, spring water, and free towels, Phuong Doan also has a team of motorbike taxi drivers to serve guests. For those who are unhappy with relatives, you will be instructed to give directions or lend a phone to contact.
Health safety ensured
Concerned about health care for pilgrims, the festival steering committee also cooperates with health to organize first aid points at points near the temple. According to our records, at the meeting point of the Steering Committee of the January full moon festival in front of Mazu Goddess Temple, in addition to the members of the Steering Committee here, there are always 2 medical teams on duty (a group of Thu Dau Mot City Health Center). and a team of Binh Duong Medic Hospital) ready to serve when people need. In addition, there are many pilgrims at the beginning of the year at the points (pagodas and shrines) in the city. On February 16, Mr. Tran Minh Hung took his 2-year-old child to Phu Cuong temple's temple and his son unfortunately got hot. While he did not know how to handle it, he found the emergency point at the festival in front of the temple. His child has been examined, measured and given fever-reducing medicine by people on duty. “Fortunately there are points like this that people like us have been served promptly. This not only brings safety, peace of mind for festival participants, but also contributes to creating more beauty and closeness of Binh Duong in the eyes of tourists near and far,” Hung expressed.
In order to have a safe festival season for tourists and people on the occasion of the new year, the festival committee has planned and assigned functional branches to ensure health care during the festive season in January 2019 Dr. Cao Thanh Tung, Head of Health Department of Thu Dau Mot City, said that he had implemented the direction of the Steering Committee, the department had built a plan and mobilized manpower to serve in the festival of the Full Moon in the province. Going to the emergency room at the festival place, done in 4 days from February 16 to 19 (from 12 to 15 January of lunar calendar). “The health sector has mobilized 10 teams for emergency care, including 9 fixed points and one mobile point. In the temple at Hoa Phu ward, there are 2 groups organized by the City Health Center and Binh Duong Medic Hospital; In pagodas with large number of pilgrims such as Hoi Khanh, Tay Tang, and Thanh An, there are direct points arranged and in the area of Cho Dinh crossroads, Go Dau area. Along with the emergency work, the Medical Department It also cooperates with relevant departments and branches to establish an interdisciplinary and specialized inspection team to ensure food safety.
With the thoughtfulness and concern of the whole society, pilgrims are really assured when visiting Mazu Goddess Temple in Binh Duong. Once again, Binh Duong creates an unforgettable mark in the hearts of the people about a civilized, safe and friendly festival season.
Reported by H.Thai – H.Thuan – Translated by Vi Bao
