The Lantern Festival at Thien Hau Pagoda in the center of Thu Dau Mot City ( Binh Duong province ) was meticulously organized, attracting thousands of people - Photo: Phuong Quyen
My house is near the temple, and I've witnessed unpleasant incidents involving tourists from far away who come to Binh Duong for pilgrimage, including locals. Food and drinks are three or four times more expensive than usual. They charge extra for lighting incense! Or, even worse, visitors might have their bags slashed, their pockets picked, or their money and phones stolen.
A friend of mine in Phu Nhuan District (Ho Chi Minh City) vented a lot of frustration about the exorbitant parking fees, water bottles costing three times the normal price, and noodle soup costing four times the normal price. The roads are littered with nails for motorbikes to run over. Even getting a tire inner tube replaced at a repair shop costs three times the normal price, and he just has to grit his teeth and bear it...
I used to be pessimistic, thinking that these "ugly" things could never be changed. Yet, things have changed far beyond my expectations. The Lantern Festival in January is now an occasion where the entire city, from the government to the people, joins hands to serve pilgrims.
Security forces maintained order and safety, ensuring absolutely no soliciting of tourists. Youth union members distributed incense and flowers to visitors to the temple. On the day of the procession of the Goddess's palanquin (15th day of the lunar month), businesses, traders, and residents in the city center ceased operations and generously participated in this beautiful act of kindness.
The vegetable vendor shared her drinks. The fish vendor shared cold towels and bottled water. The motorbike taxi driver offered free rides to visitors... People, according to their means, contributed food, drinks, and cold towels to give to visitors to the temple.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Tu, chairman of the Fatherland Front of Phu Cuong ward, shared his excitement about this year's Lunar New Year festival, saying: "The Lunar New Year festival at Ba Binh Duong Pagoda has spread so widely thanks to the kindness of the people of Thu Dau Mot! It's also thanks to the positive interaction and sincere sharing of visitors from afar who come to Binh Duong, sharing stories and beautiful acts of kindness from the local people."
However, what impressed and delighted me most was the environmental sanitation efforts before, during, and after the festival. Despite the festival lasting several days and attracting thousands of visitors to Binh Duong, there was no accumulation of trash. Numerous trash bins were placed along the roads surrounding the festival area.
At the free food and drink distribution points, banners were displayed that read: "The Lantern Festival in the first lunar month is clean, beautiful, and litter-free..."
The authorities, organizations, and people are working together to prepare well for the local festival. Pilgrims are being educated and reminded to maintain environmental hygiene, so everyone is doing their best.
A heartwarming zero-cost festival.
The impression that visitors have of the Ba Binh Duong Pagoda festival now is that it's a zero-cost festival. Free stalls are set up around the pagoda. Food is free, and parking is free.
Many visitors who had visited the temple in previous years returned to volunteer. Many local food vendors contributed by offering vegetarian meals to visitors. Everyone's small contribution made the festival warm, humane, civilized, polite, and orderly.
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