The 'sacred offering' market for Heaven's day is held once a year in Ho Chi Minh City

TPO - For many years, around the 7th and 8th of January, traders have brought yellow sugar cane (considered a sacred "offering") to the market in Ho Chi Minh City to sell to serve the demand for offerings to the Jade Emperor (also known as Heaven) on the 9th of January.

02/05/2025 | 11:56

TPO - For many years, around the 7th and 8th of January, traders have brought yellow sugar cane (considered a sacred "offering") to the market in Ho Chi Minh City to sell to serve the demand for offerings to the Jade Emperor (also known as Heaven) on the 9th of January.

On February 5, at a small corner on Le Quang Sung Street (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City), a unique "sugarcane market" that only meets once a year was bustling with buyers and sellers. For many years, around the 7th and 8th of January, traders have brought yellow sugarcane (considered a sacred "offering") to sell to serve the demand for offerings to the Jade Emperor (also known as the Heaven) on the 9th of January.

According to folk beliefs, "the 9th is the day of Heaven, the 10th is the day of Earth". Therefore, on this occasion, people often buy yellow sugar cane for the Heaven ceremony. Offerings for the Heaven ceremony include incense, lamps, flowers, tea (or water) along with votive offerings and must include longevity "gold", Heaven "gold", a pair of cardboard boxes, a pair of yellow sugar cane (with intact tops) and molded sugar. The selected golden sugar cane must be over 2 meters tall, with large, strong and straight trunks. In particular, the sugar cane must still have fresh green leaves at the top to be chosen by people in Ho Chi Minh City to buy for the Jade Emperor ceremony on the 9th of January.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Van's family ( Tien Giang ) started planting yellow sugarcane in May last year and harvested in January. This year, Mr. Van brought about 2 tons of yellow sugarcane to Ho Chi Minh City, selling it for 60,000 - 80,000 VND/pair (depending on size). This price has not increased compared to previous years.

"Every year I come here to buy yellow sugar cane to worship Heaven. This is a habit that has been around since my grandparents and parents, and now my children and grandchildren follow suit. My wish on this occasion is to pray for my family's health, peace, and for everything to go smoothly and be lucky" - Mr. Hieu Lam (living in District 5) shared.

"Sugarcane market" only meets for about 2 days, then cleans up and returns the premises before January 9th.

Golden sugarcane is bundled with 6 stalks, if customers buy the whole bundle they will get an additional discount.

The vendor is extremely accommodating to customers' requests, willing to turn each bundle of sugarcane for customers to choose pairs of sugarcane until they are satisfied.

Sugarcane for offerings is carefully selected one by one. It must be straight, two equal pieces, about 2 meters long is the best. Customers compare each piece of sugarcane to choose to buy.

The sugarcane market is bustling until the afternoon of January 8, or if the sugarcane runs out early, it will be cleared. "This year's purchasing power is not very good, customers only buy 1 pair (2 stalks) of sugarcane for offerings, not several pairs like previous years" - said Mr. Tam, who sells sugarcane in this area.

People buy sugarcane early to worship God.

Besides sugarcane, coconuts with bows are also in high demand, priced from 20,000 - 25,000 VND/fruit depending on size.

The bustling custom of buying yellow sugarcane on January 8

Uyen Phuong

Source: https://tienphong.vn/cho-le-vat-linh-thieng-via-troi-hop-moi-nam-1-lan-o-tphcm-post1714462.tpo