From the 15th and 1st of each lunar month to important occasions such as ancestral worship ceremonies, groundbreaking ceremonies, or housewarming ceremonies, people burn votive paper with the belief that "what happens in the earthly world is reflected in the spiritual world." However, the consequences of this practice are alarming levels of waste and serious environmental pollution.
According to surveys conducted at local markets in Hanoi , the market for paper money and offerings is increasingly developing. It's no longer limited to paper money, gold bars, and silver ingots as before; now, the market caters to all consumer needs, including: new cars, luxury villas, computers, and mobile phones. According to incomplete statistics, Vietnamese people spend trillions of dong annually buying paper money and offerings for worship and burning. This wasted money could be used to build many schools for children in mountainous areas or support many disadvantaged people…
In reality, people are using real money to buy "paper offerings," then burning them to ashes. This is a waste of social resources. More importantly, not only is it a waste of money, but burning paper money and incense also causes air pollution.
In reality, paper money and votive offerings are made from cheap paper, dyes, ink, and chemicals. When burned, they produce many toxic gases and fine dust. Especially in apartment buildings, urban areas, and crowded neighborhoods, burning votive offerings in unauthorized places poses a risk of fire and explosions. Numerous fires and explosions have occurred as a result of burning these items. Furthermore, after burning, the ashes scatter everywhere, littering sidewalks, roads, and even being dumped into rivers, streams, and lakes, causing water pollution. Plastic bags containing votive offerings are also carelessly discarded or burned along with the offerings, further polluting the air in the capital.
In response to this situation, the media and even the Vietnam Buddhist Association have repeatedly advised people to limit or completely stop burning paper money and votive offerings. However, this habit remains deeply ingrained in the minds of many people.
Many people, when asked, said they knew that using paper money and offerings was wasteful, polluting the environment, affecting health, and posing a high risk of fire, but because of the desire to "buy" peace of mind, they still reluctantly bought and burned them as offerings. Many also believe that the more paper money and offerings they burn, the more their ancestors will be blessed and the living will receive more good fortune.
Respectfully remembering ancestors and the deceased is a beautiful tradition of our nation, but I believe we need to behave in a more civilized manner. It's time for people to change their habits. Instead of burning stacks of large amounts of paper money and other offerings, people should use that money for charitable donations, philanthropy, and other beneficial purposes. Only then can we avoid wasting money, reduce air and environmental pollution, and prevent other negative consequences.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thay-doi-thoi-quen-dot-vang-ma-737893.html
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