A procession at the festival (Photo: VNA)Tay Ninh (VNA) – Cao Dai followers in thesouthern province of Tay Ninh and neighbouring localities celebrated theirbiggest festival in the year to pray for good weather, national peace, andprosperity on October 1 – the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
The festival namely “Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung” is a greatreligious banquet for the Great Mother and nine female immortals of the DieuTri Palace (Jasper Pond Palace) held annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunarmonth. Cao Dai followers believe the banquet implies a practice that enablesthem to achieve their goal of liberating themselves from the cycle of birth anddeath.
With the main activities including a procession, a five-fruitbanquet offering, and prayer, this year, followers displayed 74 booths offruits, musical instruments, and decorations, among others, to reenact thetales of and pay their respect to the goddesses. The number of stalls was 20less than that of last year as some localities could not participate due toCOVID-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 theParty and State for paying attention to and creating favourable conditions forCao Dai followers to practice their belief and live a happy and peaceful life.
He noted that in the past year, Cao Dai dignitaries andfollowers seriously practice their religion, act in compliance with the law,actively join charity activities, and build a civilised lifestyle atresidential areas.
Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh People’s Committee Nguyen ManhHung praised the operation of the local Cao Dai Church, saying it has supportedthe authorities in new-style rural building, charity work, and socio-economicdevelopment./.
VNA
