It’s Vietnamese tradition to make offerings to Ong Cong (the Land Genie) and Ong Tao (the Kitchen God) on the 23rd day of Lunar December which falls today. The belief is that both genies go to Heaven and brief Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) on the life of the owner of the house where they stay, and pray for luck, prosperity and happiness for all members of the household. Vietnam News photographer Truong Van Vi depicts the Hanoians pracitising the custom.
A shopper buys red carp at Trung Tu market in Ha Noi.Red carp sales are brisk on the Day of the Land Genie and the Kitchen God since people believe they carry their homes’ genies to heaven to tell Jade Emperor about their household good deeds.Local people of Bat Trang pottery village, which is located on the Hong (Red) River, carry a 3.5m-long paper carp in a procession early this morning.Three sets of votive hats and shoes and live carp stand as offerings to the Kitchen God.Hanoian Doan Thi Thuan, 88, prays to the Kitchen God at 17 Tran Phu Street, Ha Noi.Doan Thi Thuan attends to an alter to ancestors, the Land Genie and the Kitchen GodMadame Thuan’s niece gives a hand in preparing food for the ancestors and home genies.Madame Thuan prays before the home alter. Apart from offerings in the kitchen, people also prepare traditional dishes for the ancestors and home geniesAfter praying, Hanoians burn votives on the street.Releasing carp into lakes and rivers is the final step in the tradition. However, many environmentalists have protested over the practice of scattering plastic bags around the lakes and rivers, polluting the environment.
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