The above figure is much lower than previous years and surprises many people with the large number of visitors, increase of ni, and Buddhist pilgrimages to Yen Tu.
However, according to the explanation of the Yen Tu National Monuments and Forests Management Board, the number of people donating is decreasing while the donation fee allocation rate remains the same as before: 4% for the Yen Tu National Monuments and Forests Management Board, the remaining 96% belongs to the pagoda.
In 2024, the total amount of donations from Yen Tu will be about 8 billion VND. With a deduction rate of 4%, the Yen Tu National Monuments and Forest Management Board received about 320 million VND.
According to statistics, the highest amount of donations in Yen Tu this year was over 30 billion VND. With a deduction of 4%, each year, the Yen Tu National Monuments and Forest Management Board receives about 1 billion VND.
According to the reporter's observation, in some pagodas along the pilgrimage to Dong Yen Tu pagoda, each pagoda has only one box and a donation table, but the number of people who donate is quite small compared to those who deposit money on altars, statues, offerings and other donation boxes, which are often called drop of oil.
Up to now, many people still believe that all the money that people, monks, and Buddhists put into donation boxes or placed on altars... in Yen Tu is given to a certain person.
However, in reality, Uong Bi City and the Yen Tu National Monuments and Forest Management Board only know the total amount of money in the donation box; how much the drop of oil is left, how to spend it is completely under the authority of the pagoda, which is often much larger than the donation fee.
Regarding donation money, Uong Bi city established a council to manage and supervise, including representatives of the Yen Tu National Monument and Forest Management Board, the Yen Tu Pagoda Renovation Project Management Board (pagoda), the city police, and the Uong Bi City Planning and Finance Department. After the counting, the donation money was allocated at a ratio of: 96% to the pagoda, the remaining 4% belonged to the Yen Tu National Monument and Forest Management Board.
According to the Department of Finance of Quang Ninh province, the price of oil drops does not have to be implemented according to Circular 04, dated March 19, 2023 of the Ministry of Finance, so the authorities do not know the figures.
According to Circular 04, religious and relic establishments only report on the receipt, management and use of donation money, sponsorship for relics and festival activities; No reporting on the receipt, management and use of donation money for religious activities is required.
Meanwhile, "religious activities" under Clause 10 and Clause 11, Article 2 of the Law on Belief and Religion 2016 are understood to include activities of religious dissemination, religious activities and management of religious organizations. In which, religious activities are the expression of religious beliefs, practicing teachings, teachings, and religious rituals. Thus, money such as offerings, prayers for peace, super prayers, droppoles of oil, offerings for monks... are not subject to regulation in Circular 04 and are not subject to regulation, and must be reported according to the direction of the Ministry of Finance.
Regarding donation money, a representative of the Department of Culture and Sports of Quang Ninh province said that the Department is currently advising on the use of donation money for the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province.
