Tens of thousands of Cao Dai followers and visitors nationwide flocked to the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Church in Hoa Thanh district, southern Tay Ninh province on September 8 for the sect’s grand ritual, “Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung”.

“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 fifteenth day of the eighth 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.

During this year’s event, which saw the presence of representatives from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and local authorities, Cao Dai followers displayed over 90 trays of fruit and food at the Temple of the Great Mother to pray for favourable weather, a peaceful and prosperous country and happy people.

Speaking at the event, Monsignor Thuong Tam Thanh, head of the Sacerdotal Council of the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Church, called on Cao Dai dignitaries and followers to actively join in charitable and social activities, practise faith and make contributions to the national development.-VNA