Lac Thuy district in the northern province of Hoa Binh currently has two operative religions of Catholicism and Buddhism with 15,215 followers, accounting for 24.9 % the district population.
Trinh temple in Phu Nghia commune
In order to strengthen the state administration on belief and religion, Lac Thuy district authorities have issued legal documents to effectively and consistently implement the Law on Belief and Religion and its guiding Decree No. 162/2017/ND-CP, as well as actively disseminated guidelines and policies of the Party and State on belief and religion for local officials, religious followers, and general people in the locality.
The district People’s Committee has also sent guiding notes on Covid-19 pandemic prevention work in belief and religious worshipping places, and the management of festivals and worshipping practices. Local authorities have also created favorable conditions and resolved legitimate needs of religious organizations and individuals in accordance with the law, including the organization of important festivals of religions such as the Buddha birthday festival of Buddhism and Christmas of Catholicism, and extended congratulation visits to religious dignitaries on occasion of important religious festivals.
In particular, directly supervising ten out of 13 belief-worshipping places, the People’s Committee in Phu Nghia commune has guided local people to observe the state law during belief and religious practices. According to Vice Chairman of the commune People’s Committee Màu Đăng Ưng, several festivals have been held every year in belief places such as Thuong temple festival (8-10 of the 11th lunar month), Doi Quan temple festival (9-10 of the first lunar month) and Tien pagoda (from fourth day of the first lunar month to the third lunar month). Due to the complicated Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020-2021, these belief places canceled their traditional festivals, and held only small incense offering ceremonies.
PH (baohoabinh.com.vn)
