On the morning of February 22, thousands of locals and international tourists flocked to Ong Pagoda (That Phu Co Mieu) in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai, to participate in the balloon release activity, one of the events of the Ong Pagoda festival in 2024.
At the balloon release ceremony at Ong Pagoda festival this year, the most impressive highlight was the 10m long dragon-shaped balloon release, bringing thousands of locals and tourists a unique and meaningful experience in the first days of the new year of Giap Thin.
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According to the festival organizers, the image of a dragon-shaped blessing balloon flying high symbolizes the strength, resilience and spirit of overcoming difficulties of the Vietnamese people. In addition, about 1,000 blessing balloons were released into the sky, carrying the good wishes of people and tourists for a new year of peace and prosperity.
Ms. Nguyen Lam An (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) said that every year she goes to the Ong Pagoda festival in Bien Hoa, this year is the first time she has seen such a big and magnificent festival.
“I was very impressed with the balloon release activity. I hope my wishes for good luck and health for my family in the coming year will come true,” said Ms. An.
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Mr. Nguyen Hoang Huan (living in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai) shared: "Like every year, I attend the Ong Pagoda festival, this year I find it more magnificent, especially the activity of releasing dragon-shaped lucky balloons is very impressive".
The Seven Palaces Ancient Temple was established in 1684 and has been around for 340 years. This year’s Ong Pagoda Festival takes place from February 18 to 22 (January 9 to 13) with many rituals such as: Welcoming the gods, the ceremony of Duc Ong Quan Thanh De Quan; releasing lucky balloons, releasing flower lanterns on the river. In addition, the Festival also has activities such as lion - unicorn - dragon performances, martial arts, Tuong; Vietnamese - Chinese calligraphy exchange, stage performances, etc.
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Mr. Huynh Huu Nghia, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of Ong Pagoda Festival, said that this year, with the image of the sacred golden dragon mascot and thousands of colorful lucky balls in the sky, the organizing committee wishes to send wishes and prayers for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, good crops, social peace, and the province to achieve many achievements in the new year.
The historical and cultural relic of Ong Pagoda (That Phu Co Mieu, Quan De Temple) is a unique historical and architectural relic built in the 17th century, considered the first religious establishment of the Chinese in the entire Southern region.
Ong Pagoda has been ranked as a national relic according to Decision No. 04/2001/QD of the Ministry of Culture and Information dated February 19, 2001.
Every year, the Ong Pagoda Festival takes place with many unique cultural and religious activities, attracting many people from all over to come and worship. The first Ong Pagoda Festival took place from February 19 to 22, 2013 (from the 10th to the 13th of the first lunar month of the year of Quy Ty).
The festival is an opportunity for people to worship and admire their ancestors who contributed to the development and construction of Bien Hoa - Dong Nai, thereby demonstrating the beauty of cultural exchange between local ethnic communities.
In 2023, Ong Pagoda Festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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