Every Lunar year, on December 23rd, Vietnamese people worship Ong Tao (the Kitchen God) and set free carps to see him off to the Heavenly Palace. Viet Nam News reporter Viet Thanh captured the traditional activities in Ha Noi on Thursday.
Every Lunar year, on December 23rd, Vietnamese people worship Ong Tao (the Kitchen God) and set free carps to see him off to the Heavenly Palace. According to a traditional belief, the god on this day straddles a carp to fly to heaven to report on family affairs to the Jade Emperor.
Releasing the fish into rivers, lakes and ponds is considered a beautiful activity, and increasingly large numbers of young volunteers call upon the public to protect the environment, as they participate in this tradition.
Viet Nam News photographer Viet Thanh captured the traditional activities in Ha Noi on Thursday.
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Old women buy paper as offerings for the Kitchen God on Luong Van Can Street. ― VNS Photos Viet Thanh
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Customers buy peach blossoms as offerings for the Kitchen God on Hang Luoc Street.
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Gold carps are sold for worshipping the Kitchen God on a street in Ha Noi.
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An old woman worships the Kitchen God on Hang Be Street.
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A resident in Hang Be Street worships the Kitchen God.
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Residents in Hang Bac Street burn paper as offerings for the Kitchen God.
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A family prepares to set free gold carps from Long Bien Bridge.
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Volunteer students collect nylon bags after people set free fish on Long Bien Bridge.
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A volunteer displays the slogan, "Set free fish, don't drop nylon bags" on Long Bien Bridge.
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| A man rides a motorcycle past students who hold up the slogan "Set free fish, don't drop nylon bags" on Long Bien Bridge. |
