However, in recent years, the burning of votive paper has been done in a way that competes to "bribe" the underworld, regardless of "wasting money and property", regardless of environmental pollution and burning votive paper in the wrong place, leading to fires, explosions, etc.
The time before and during Tet is a time when it is very difficult to control the burning of votive paper. At places of worship, historical and cultural relics, people bring and burn votive paper of various types - from popular to high-end, from "gold and silver, minh y", to polymer money for the underworld, iPhones, televisions, refrigerators, mansions, cars, airplanes...
Illustration photo.
Some families even burned the maid dolls and sent them to hell. We don't know if the ancestors and family will receive the "sincerity" of their descendants, but the fresh air and environmental resources have been destroyed.
Most Venerable Thich Hue Minh, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Binh Chanh District (HCMC), said that in Buddhist activities, there is no form of burning votive paper, and advised people who come to the pagoda to burn only one stick of incense to contribute to environmental protection. The Venerable said that burning a lot of incense does not show sincerity.
From a legal perspective, based on Point a, Clause 1, Article 14 of Decree 38/2021/ND-CP, the Law does not prohibit the act of burning votive papers. However, if votive papers are burned in the wrong place, or even cause a fire, they will be handled according to the law.
So where can we burn votive paper without being banned? If burning votive paper causes a fire, how will the person who burns it be punished?
In fact, the law on fire prevention and fighting does not have specific regulations on where to burn votive paper. However, individuals are responsible for ensuring fire safety when using fire sources, heat sources, fire-generating and heat-generating equipment and tools, and when storing and using flammable substances.
Lawyer Quach Thanh Luc, director of Phap Tri Law Firm, Hanoi Bar Association, said that Clause 5, Article 2, Appendix 1 issued with Circular 02/2016/TT-BXD strictly prohibits the act of burning votive paper and lighting fires in apartment buildings, except for locations where votive paper is allowed to be burned according to regulations in apartment buildings.
People who burn votive paper and cause fires may be subject to administrative sanctions based on their actions and the extent of damage.
Specifically, a warning or a fine of 200,000 to 500,000 VND will be imposed according to the provisions of Point a, Clause 1, Article 14 of Decree 38/2021/ND-CP dated March 29, 2021 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of culture and advertising.
Or be punished according to Articles 50 and 51 of Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP dated December 31, 2021, stipulating administrative sanctions for violations in the fields of security, order, and social safety; prevention of social evils; fire prevention and fighting; rescue; prevention and control of domestic violence.
In addition, people who burn votive paper and cause fires may be criminally prosecuted under the provisions of Article 180 and Article 313 of the Penal Code.
Burning votive paper excessively will cause waste and no god will give fortune to those who do not appreciate money. Therefore, for those who are familiar with this custom, we should pay attention to reducing the amount of votive paper burned, and one day we will stop burning it, the better. When going to the temple to worship, we should keep a peaceful mind and practice our beliefs in a civilized and modern way.
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