Huong Pagoda Festival (Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi) is one of the festivals attracting a huge number of tourists from different locations coming to visit.
The plan clearly states that the management and organization of festivals is one of the key and regular tasks of the local authorities and units, associated with the patriotic emulation movements and the implementation of civilized lifestyle in beliefs and religious activities at the relic.
Accordingly, festival organization must be economical, formal, practical and effective. Superstitious activities, backward practices, activities at risk of insecurity, order and solidarity in the community are not allowed. Festival organization must be suitable to the local economic conditions, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the nation.
Promoting propaganda and encouraging people to strictly follow the regulations on implementing civilized lifestyle upon participating the festivals, creating a change in awareness of the festival participants to respect, protect and promote traditional cultural values. Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, People’s Committees of the districts and towns will organize professional training courses to enhance the festival management and organization skills and disseminate the law on cultural heritage and applicable legal documents as well as coordinate with press agencies, radio stations to propagate and promote festival activities.
People’s Committees of the districts and towns will develop organization and management plans for the festivals taking place in the area, direct specialized departments and units, according to their functions and tasks to participate in the direction and management of festivals. They will also well plan, manage and organize the services during the festivals as well as ensure the security, order and environmental sanitation before, during and after the festivals. Inspection and examination will be enhanced before, during and after the festivals to promptly prevent and strictly handle violations, especially acts of abusing relics and festivals to profiteer, incite violence, circulate and trade illegal cultural products and other law violations. Festivals encountering difficulties and obstacles in the direction and management should be promptly reported to Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports for resolution. Socializing the organization of cultural and artistic activities, sports and tourism in service of festivals and encouraging the organization of traditional cultural activities and folk games.
In addition, the plan also provides specific guidance on registration and organization of festivals at all levels.
Giong Temple Festival (Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi) is a hot spot every festive season.
Regarding to the inspection and examination work, Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports in coordination with the Inspectors of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city’s departments and agencies carry out the inspection of the festival organization and management in the districts and towns to promptly prevent and strictly handle negative acts taking advantage of the festivals to perform superstitious activities, illicit business and unhealthy activities such as circulating illegal cultural publications against the fine customs and traditions; organizing gambling games, electronic services using loudspeakers with large capacity; remind the Festival Organization Committee to control merit money in accordance with regulations, closely inspect the service activities, publicize service prices; inspect and prevent commercial frauds on service prices and charges, etc. strictly fine organizations and individuals taking advantage of festivals in increasing price according to law’s provisions.
With the aim of thoroughly grasping and strictly implementing the direction of the Central and City on the management and organization of festivals in the Capital area, the festivals are promoting and preserving traditional cultural values through festival activities, ensuring the management and organization of festivals in accordance with the law, paying tribute to and commemorating the merits of national heroes and cultural figures, the predecessors’ contribution in building and defending the Fatherland through the organization of festival activities; honoring traditional cultural values, preserving, restoring and promoting cultural heritage values; at the same time, improving the quality of festival management and organization before, during and after Ky Hoi Lunar New year; promoting and preserving traditional cultural values during festival activities; ensuring a healthy cultural environment to help people enjoy spring joy and prepare Tet holiday.
Dong Hoang