Spring festival safety

The At Ty 2025 Spring Festival filled Thai Nguyen with a joyful and exciting atmosphere. From the countryside to the city, the voices and laughter of men, women, the elderly and children were bustling about family matters, national affairs and going to spring festivals. Everyone was excited with the belief that good and bad luck would be wrapped up in the old year, to open up new days filled with positive energy.

People from hamlets of Dong Dat commune (Phu Luong) offer gifts to Saint Duom Duong Tu Minh at Duom Temple Festival.

Spring is rushing back to all people. The warmth of heaven and earth makes all things flourish, people are excited to welcome the new spring and are excited about the festival season. Amidst the “breath” of spring, festivals in the “half-field, half-mountain” land of Thai Nguyen are continuously opening. The earliest are the Cau Muoi Communal House - Temple - Pagoda Festival (Phu Binh); Van Mountain, Vo Mountain Festival (Dai Tu); Duom Temple Festival (Phu Luong)... Our observations: The festivals that were opened in early spring are taking place in accordance with the requirements of the “Set of criteria on cultural environment in traditional festivals” issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The highlight is that the festivals are organized in a spirit of thrift, solemnity, efficiency, without superstitious activities, backward customs; in accordance with the fine customs, traditional cultural values ​​of the nation; meeting the needs of enjoyment and improving the spiritual life of the people. Mr. Le Ngoc Linh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy of the Provincial Tourism Development Steering Committee, said: The spring festival is an opportunity to preserve and promote the values ​​of cultural heritage, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and tourism in the province.

Currently, there are nearly 200 traditional festivals held in the spring in the province. Each festival has its own unique cultural features, so it has created an attraction for a large number of people and tourists inside and outside the province. The festivals have become meeting places for thousands of people. It is estimated that in January, the areas, destinations, especially the festivals in the province will attract about 500,000 visitors to visit, pray for luck, fortune and peace.

People prepare to go to Long Tong festival (Dinh Hoa).

In order for the festival season to take place safely and civilly, meeting the religious, sightseeing and entertainment needs of the people, relevant levels and sectors of the province and localities with festivals have increased the organization of information and propaganda activities, conveying to the people the regulations on the festival through the local loudspeaker system and some social networking applications such as Zalo, Facebook, Messenger, Tiktok, Instagram. Thereby, all people understand more fully and deeply the meaning and value of the festival and voluntarily comply with the regulations of the festival.

Most festivals have compiled a summary table introducing the history, architectural value, and cultural and artistic values ​​of the relics and festivals. Related activities to meet the religious needs of the people are also arranged appropriately by the organizing committee, ensuring safety, avoiding jostling and fires such as: Places for arranging offerings, shelves for offerings, places for offering, burning incense, and burning votive papers. The management and use of donation money are carried out by places of worship publicly, transparently, in accordance with regulations and for the right purposes; at the same time, the exchange of small change at relics and festivals is strictly prohibited.

Coming to Phu Lien Pagoda (Thai Nguyen City), many people were excited: The pagoda has a rule: People and visitors from all directions do not light or burn incense because the pagoda has already lit incense coils. This is a beautiful cultural feature of going to pagodas, communal houses, and temples at the beginning of the year and throughout the year. I hope this will be popularized and widely implemented in places of worship. Because incense sticks are not as good as incense hearts. Also at the communal house, temple, and pagoda festival this year, visitors when performing the ceremony have limited the placing of coins, donations on the altars or not placing coins on Buddha statues as well as other artifacts.

It is estimated that in January, areas, destinations, especially festivals in the province will attract over 500,000 visitors to sightsee, pray for blessings, fortune and peace.

Security and order at festivals have also been enhanced. Along with the police force, the militia also has volunteers to guide and help festival-goers in case they need assistance. Up to now, there have been no reports of pickpockets, thefts or overcharges. State authorities have also not detected any buyers or sellers of cultural publications that are not allowed to be circulated.

For the safety of the people and tourists, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proactively coordinated with a number of State agencies to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect the management and organization of festivals in localities. Thanks to that, violations, negative manifestations, taking advantage of festivals for superstitious activities, illegal business and violations of the Law on Cultural Heritage, and damage to relics have been promptly reminded and prevented.

The festival season continues in the spring days. This is also a time to remind everyone to have a more positive attitude towards life. Simply participating in maintaining public hygiene, having a cultural lifestyle, civilized behavior in the family and all areas of social life; contributing to reducing negative and offensive phenomena in festivals as well as in daily life.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202502/an-toan-le-hoi-ngay-xuan-8810be4/