The full moon festival of the first lunar month at Thien Hau Pagoda in the center of Thu Dau Mot City (Binh Duong) was carefully organized, attracting thousands of people to participate - Photo: PHUONG QUYEN
My house is near the pagoda, I have witnessed unpleasant things happening to tourists from far away who come to Binh Duong for pilgrimage, including locals. Food and drinks are three or four times more expensive than usual. They burn incense for you and then... ask for money! Or worse, visitors can have their bags slashed, their pockets, money, or phones picked.
A friend of mine in Phu Nhuan District (HCMC) has vented his frustrations about the exorbitant parking fees, a bottle of water costs 3 times more, a bowl of noodles costs 4 times more than normal. The road is full of nails for motorbikes to run over. Going to a tire shop to get a tire replaced is 3 times more expensive, but he has to grit his teeth and endure...
I used to be pessimistic when I thought that these "ugliness" could not be changed. However, everything has changed more than I thought. The full moon festival in January is now an occasion for the whole city, from the government to the people, to join hands to serve pilgrims.
Security forces maintain order and safety, with absolutely no soliciting of tourists. Youth union members distribute incense and flowers to visitors to the pagoda. On the day of the Lady's palanquin procession (15th lunar month), businesses, traders, and people in the city center stop trading, roll up their sleeves, and generously perform a beautiful act.
The vegetable seller shared her drinks. The fish seller shared cold towels and bottled water. The motorbike taxi driver picked up and dropped off guests for free... People, depending on their ability, contributed food, drinks, and cold towels to give to visitors to the temple.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Tu, Chairman of Phu Cuong Ward Front, shared his excitement in this year's Full Moon Festival season: "The Full Moon Festival of Ba Binh Duong Pagoda is spreading like this thanks to the hearts of the people of Thu Dau Mot! Another part is thanks to the positive interactions and sincere sharing of visitors from far away to Binh Duong, sharing stories and beautiful gestures of the people".
However, what impressed and impressed me the most was the environmental sanitation work before, during and after the festival. Although the festival lasted for many days and the number of tourists coming to Binh Duong reached thousands, there was no garbage congestion. The roads around the festival area were equipped with more trash bins.
At the free food and drink distribution points, banners are "attached": Clean, beautiful, no-waste January Full Moon Festival...
The government, organizations and people work together to prepare well for the festival in their locality. Pilgrims are informed and reminded so everyone keeps the environment clean.
Warm 0 VND festival
The impression of the Ba Binh Duong Pagoda Festival to visitors now is that it is a zero-dong festival. Free stalls are set up in the area around Ba Pagoda. Free food, free parking.
Many visitors from previous years have returned to volunteer. Many local food vendors have contributed vegetarian meals to the guests. Each person contributes a little to make the festival warm, humane, civilized, polite and orderly.
Source
Comment (0)