On September 19 (the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Lunar calendar), more than 200,000 Cao Dai followers and people in southern provinces flocked to the Tay Ninh Holy See in Hoa Thanh district, Tay Ninh province for a grand ritual called “Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung”.
Mr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Vice - Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, and representatives from the Party Central Committee's Commission forMass Mobilization attended the event.
Thelocal leaders included Mr. Lê Minh Trọng, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Mr. Trần Lưu Quang, StandingVice - Chairman of the provincial People's Committeeand representatives from local departments and agencies and the Committees for Religious Affairs in southern localities andthe Executive Board of Buddhism in Tay Ninh province.
“Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung” is a yearly event, a great religious banquet dedicated to the Great Mother. On this occasion, Cao Dai followers gather at the Great Temple to offer items to the Great Mother. The offerings, including flowers, fruits and cakes, are displayed in a special and nice way, showing homage to the Great Mother.
Monsignor Thượng Tám Thanh, Head of the Sacerdotal Council of the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Church, spoke highly of the well-arranged offering trays during this year’s event. On this occasion, he thanked the Party and State as well as relevant agencies and local authorities for providing favourable conditions for Cao Dai dignitaries and followers to practice their belief and build a prosperous and happy life.
This year’s festival took place on September 19-20, 2013 with the ritual Ceremonies worshipping the Great Mother, pray for peace and a procession of figurines of the Great Mother, the nine female immortals, the Horse Dragon and the four supernatural creatures. On September 20, the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Church presented gifts to local children./.
Here are some images of the festival:
Delegatesvisitbooths displaying offerings
Offerings are decorated exquisitely
Mr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, offers flowersto celebrate the festival
Monsignor Thượng Tám Thanh thanks the Party and State for their care
Việt Bách
