A procession at the festival (Photo: VNA) Tay Ninh (VNA) – Cao Dai followers in the southern province of Tay Ninh and neighbouring localities celebrated their biggest festival in the year to pray for good weather, national peace, and prosperity on October 1 – the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
The festival namely “Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung” is a great religious banquet for the Great Mother and nine female immortals of the Dieu Tri Palace (Jasper Pond Palace) held annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Cao Dai followers believe the banquet implies a practice that enables them to achieve their goal of liberating themselves from the cycle of birth and death.
With the main activities including a procession, a five-fruit banquet offering, and prayer, this year, followers displayed 74 booths of fruits, musical instruments, and decorations, among others, to reenact the tales of and pay their respect to the goddesses. The number of stalls was 20 less than that of last year as some localities could not participate due to COVID-19.
In his remarks at the festival, Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Head of the Executive Council of the Cao Dai Church in Tay Ninh, thanked the Party and State for paying attention to and creating favourable conditions for Cao Dai followers to practice their belief and live a happy and peaceful life.
He noted that in the past year, Cao Dai dignitaries and followers seriously practice their religion, act in compliance with the law, actively join charity activities, and build a civilised lifestyle at residential areas.
Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Hung praised the operation of the local Cao Dai Church, saying it has supported the authorities in new-style rural building, charity work, and socio-economic development./.
VNA
