Foreigners release carp to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 1

At 10am on February 2 (December 23), many families brought their children to release carp in the West Lake area, Long Bien Bridge, Giang Vo Lake... (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 2

Taking advantage of the break, Sergeant Doan Van Tiep and his teammates (currently conscripts stationed in the capital) brought two bags of goldfish to West Lake to release (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 3

According to folk beliefs, the 23rd of December is the occasion for Vietnamese families to send the "kitchen god" to heaven. Carp is the "vehicle" that takes the Kitchen God to heaven to report on his work during the past year (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 4

Every year, the area near Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the familiar carp release spots for Hanoians. This year, Yen Phu Ward Police (Tay Ho District) organized support for people to gather goldfish and release them into the Red River to avoid environmental pollution (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 5

As usual, on the day of sending the Kitchen Gods to heaven, young people from the "Duong Tao Quan" club were present at Long Bien Bridge with banners and placards to encourage people to "Release fish, not plastic bags" to protect the environment (Photo: Manh Quan).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 6

Many people entrusted the task of releasing fish to group members by putting the fish in plastic buckets and then lowering them down from Long Bien Bridge to the surface of the Red River (Photo: Manh Quan).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 7

This is the fifth year that Ms. Thuy Duong (28 years old) has taken on the responsibility of releasing carp for the agency at Giang Vo Lake (Ba Dinh District). For her, this activity holds many meanings, bringing luck for the new year (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 8

The night before, Tuan Tu (11 years old) asked for permission to go release goldfish with his grandfather and mother today. Tu's grandfather said: "Tu is very studious and loves to explore. I let him go to understand the traditional customs of our people" (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Người nước ngoài thả cá chép tiễn ông Táo chầu trời - 9

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Khuyen went to release fish with her fiancé, Mr. Shpakau Aliaksanrn (Belarusian nationality) at Giang Vo lake.

"This is the first time I have released fish, I feel this culture is very warm. Because I have not been in Vietnam for long, I do not fully understand the traditional customs," said Shpakau Aliaksanrn (Photo: Thanh Dong).

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