Crowds of people offering sacrifices and pouring oil to pay respect to the Jade Emperor on the first day of the year

TPO - Many people crowded into the main hall of Ngoc Hoang Pagoda in District 1 to offer prayers and pour oil on the first day of the new year.

January 29, 2025 | 15:53

TPO - Many people crowded into the main hall of Ngoc Hoang Pagoda in District 1 to offer prayers and pour oil on the first day of the new year.

Phuoc Hai Pagoda, also known as Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, is an ancient pagoda located on Mai Thi Luu Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It has been recognized by the state as a national architectural and artistic heritage site.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the area in front of the temple and the entrance to the main hall were packed with people coming to pay their respects to the Jade Emperor. The temple had to assign staff to direct the pilgrims along the pathways to avoid congestion.

Pouring oil is the most important ritual when paying homage to the Jade Emperor.

Cooking oil is poured into the oil lamps in front of the Jade Emperor's shrine, and someone is always standing there to pour it into the ceremonial lamps.

The oil is pre-filled in plastic bottles; pilgrims can buy a bottle and then pour it into the oil lamps in front of the temple, along with prayers for good health, smooth work, and prosperity.

Everyone tries to get blessings, such as fruit and rice, to take home after visiting the temple. "I got a tangerine from the Jade Emperor's shrine, and I'll bring it home and share a segment with everyone for good luck at the beginning of the year," shared Mr. Huu Viet (from Binh Thanh).

Other shrines were also packed with people. Security personnel at the temple continuously used loudspeakers to announce and encourage people not to use incense to avoid suffocation from smoke.

Not only is it a place to pray for love or children, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda is also a popular destination for those seeking peace, wealth, or good health in life.

After offering prayers at all the shrines, people ask for lucky numbers, amulets, and perform rituals to ward off bad luck, believing they will receive protection and blessings from the gods.

The pond in the courtyard was also crowded with people sightseeing, bowing to the statues, and watching the fish.

Many children were tired after accompanying their parents to the temple on the first day of the year.

The souvenir stalls were also packed with tourists buying things.

According to locals, the Jade Emperor Pagoda will welcome a large number of visitors from now until the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year).

Visiting temples at the beginning of the new year has become a beautiful tradition in Vietnamese culture for generations.

Many foreign tourists also visit the temple to worship.

As the afternoon progressed, the number of people coming to offer incense increased, causing the pathways from the outer courtyard to the inside of the temples to be completely packed with people.

Security guards stationed at the four corners reminded pilgrims to maintain order, queue properly, not walk against the flow of traffic, and not to spend too long in the ceremony.

To ensure security and order in the area in front of the temple gate, security units were present to arrange parking and direct traffic to ensure the smooth movement of people passing through the area.

Duy Anh

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chen-nhau-dang-le-rot-dau-via-ngoc-hoang-ngay-dau-nam-post1713194.tpo