Preserving the custom of releasing fish - Expressing wishes for the new year.

Instead of choosing red carp, some Hanoi residents buy large carp weighing about 2-3 kg to use as a means of sending the Kitchen God and the Stove God back to heaven on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month.

On the morning of February 10th (the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month), a large crowd gathered at West Lake (Thanh Nien Street, near Tran Quoc Pagoda, Tay Ho Ward, Hanoi ) to release carp as part of the Kitchen God and Stove God worship ceremony. At least 4-5 officials and police officers from Tay Ho Ward were present to encourage and guide people to release the fish in the designated areas.

Many people came to the West Lake area to release carp.

PHOTO: DINH HUY

Because the water quality in West Lake is not guaranteed, the carp released into it only survive for a few hours before dying. Therefore, authorities have encouraged people to release the fish into buckets and transport them to the Red River.

Most people supported the authorities' actions, releasing the fish into buckets and placing the plastic bags in the designated areas. However, some people still disregarded the instructions and dumped the ashes from incense burners into the lake, causing water pollution. Nearby, some weak carp surfaced and were quickly caught by birds.

People were instructed to put the red carp into buckets, after which the Tay Ho Police would transport them to the Red River for release.

PHOTO: DINH HUY

As one of the volunteers present at the fish release point near Tran Quoc Pagoda, Venerable Thich Tinh Giac, Abbot of Phuc Son Pagoda (Thuan An commune, Hanoi), said that he came here to help people release fish and clean up the environment.

According to Venerable Thich Tinh Giac, folk beliefs suggest that people often throw ashes and incense burners into rivers and lakes to pray for good luck, but this is not actually the case and only pollutes the water source.

"I came here to clean up the environment, help people learn how to release fish so they can survive, and encourage them not to scatter ash or incense sticks into the lake to keep the water clean. Only then will the fish be able to survive," said Venerable Thich Tinh Giac.

Besides helping people release fish, Venerable Thich Tinh Giac also picked up incense burners and encouraged people not to scatter ash to avoid polluting the water source.

PHOTO: DINH HUY

Releasing giant carp to send the Kitchen God back to heaven.

According to traditional beliefs, carp are the means by which the Kitchen God ascends to heaven. People often choose to buy red carp to offer to the Kitchen God. For many, the moment of releasing the carp into the water evokes special emotions, signaling the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year.

Besides red carp, many people choose "giant" carp, weighing 2-3 kg, as well as eels and perch, to release into the wild.

Ms. Do Thi Hien brought a 3 kg carp to release into the wild.

PHOTO: DINH HUY

Bringing a carp weighing about 3 kg to West Lake, Ms. Do Thu Hien (38 years old) said that early this morning, she went to Chau Long market (Ba Dinh Ward) to buy fish for the Kitchen God and the Stove God offering. Like before, she chose the biggest carp in the market, believing that larger fish would not be eaten, but released so they could live.

"I am a teacher who provides intervention therapy for students with psychological problems. On the day of the Kitchen God's departure to heaven, I hope that in the new year, the students' mental state will be more relaxed and at ease," Ms. Hien said, adding that not only on the occasion of the Kitchen God's departure, but also on other holidays, she goes to the market to buy fish for release.

Like Ms. Hien, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Sang (63 years old) also bought a carp weighing nearly 2 kg and dozens of eels to offer to the Kitchen God before he ascends to heaven. Upon arriving at West Lake, he was guided by officials from Tay Ho Ward and Venerable Thich Tinh Giac to release the fish into a bucket to take them to the Red River for release.

Mr. Sang (left in the photo) hopes for peace and safety in the new year by releasing carp into the wild.

PHOTO: DINH HUY

Mr. Sang believes that not only red carp, but any fish released on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month can be a means of transporting the Kitchen God back to heaven.

"I also bought carp from the market to offer as a traditional sacrifice. I hope that everything will be peaceful in the new year," Mr. Sang said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-ha-noi-tha-ca-chep-khong-lo-dua-tao-quan-ve-troi-185260210132106839.htm