On the morning of January 31 (the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year), thousands of tourists came to Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (located in Hung Thinh commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province) early to offer incense and make offerings.
Everyone lit incense together to pray for fortune, favorable weather, prosperous business, and happy family.
Depending on each person's needs (for luck, peace, love or to ward off bad luck), the offering tray can be more or less. The price of each offering tray ranges from a few hundred thousand dong to a few million dong.
Many families are willing to spend tens of millions of dong to prepare offerings and burn votive paper. Services such as arranging offerings for hire, selling souvenirs, writing prayers, etc. are also flourishing in front of the temple gate.
Besides votive paper and fruit, "horse" is the most popular offering that visitors bring to the temple.
Mr. Nguyen Van Truong (45 years old, residing in Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province) shared: "Every year, at the beginning of the new year, my family goes to Nghe An, to Ong Hoang Muoi Temple to burn incense, offer prayers for peace, and hope for a year of good health and fortune."
With the concept of "Buy salt at the beginning of the year and lime at the end of the year", on the first days of the new year, many people have the habit of buying small packages of salt and lighters to bring luck and fortune, hoping for a prosperous and warm year.
Authorities have been deployed to direct traffic and ensure safety for residents and visitors coming to offer incense and make offerings.
Along with Cho Cui Temple (Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh) and Con Temple (Hoang Mai town, Nghe An), Qua Son Temple (Do Luong district)..., Ong Hoang Muoi Temple is one of the most sacred temples in Nghe An.
The temple was built in 1634, under the Later Le Dynasty, and was restored in 1995. Currently, the temple still preserves 21 royal decrees and a system of statues of historical value. Over hundreds of years, Ong Hoang Muoi Temple has become an important religious and spiritual center.
The temple has two major festivals: the opening festival on the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month; the death anniversary of Ong Hoang Muoi on the 10th day of the 10th lunar month.
