In the afternoon of January 21, the People’s Committee of Hanoi met online to deploy the management and organization of the spring festival in 2021 in Hanoi. Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung attended and directed the meeting.
Vice Chairman Chu Xuan Dung delivered his speech at the meeting.
At the meeting, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi Van Anh mentioned that more than 1,200 festivals took place in the city each year, mainly during the spring. Particularly in 2020, due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and its complicated developments, following the instructions given by the central government and the city People’s Committee, Department of Culture and Sports has requested localities to halt all festival activities and cultural and sports activities that gather a large number of people for epidemic prevention and control while strengthening propaganda, mobilization, inspection, rectification, handling of violations, etc.
“In general, the observance of the regulations on halting festive activities is strictly observed. From the beginning of 2020 up to now, there have been more than 900 festivals halted at the request of the central and city governments. People visiting religious facilities and practice ceremonies are essentially in compliance with regulations on epidemic prevention and control. However, there are still shortcomings and limitations, namely overuse of votive paper, giving donations in wrong places, offensive clothing, littering resulting in an unsanitary environment, etc.”, said Mrs. Tran Thi Van Anh.
To overcome shortcomings and limitations, and meet the people’s need for religious practice in the spring festival season of 2021, on December 18, 2020, Hanoi People’s Committee of Hanoi issued Document No. 5804/UBND – KGVX on the management and organization of festivals in 2021 in compliance with Prime Minister’s policy on the realization of dual goals: epidemic prevention and control, and promotion of socio-economic development. The Document also aims at improving capacity and efficiency in the management and organization of festivals in 2021.
Accordingly, the city People’s Committee requires that city-level departments and branches, and People’s Committees of districts and towns strictly comply with the Government’s Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP dated August 29, 2018, on festival management and organization, and directive documents by the Central government, propagate and campaign to raise awareness and responsibility among all levels, sectors, people and tourists while continuing to promote measures to prevent and fight against Covid-19; regularly monitor and update epidemic situation to promptly, fully and accurately inform the public; have all tourist sites, landscapes, and historical-cultural sites regularly disinfect and provide disinfectants at entrances and exits to/from relic sites, and limit the organization of large-scale festivals.
Internet. Festivals are only organized when Covid-19 prevention and control is guaranteed. Photo: Internet.
At the meeting, representatives of departments, agencies, branches; and leaders of the People’s Committees of districts and towns reported on the management and organization of festivals in 2021. Accordingly, 100% of districts and towns have built organizational and managing plans for the festival in 2021; had specific plans to ensure environmental sanitation, prevention and fighting fires and explosion, and especially prevention and control of Covid-19; organized inspection teams and urged localities to spray disinfectants; sent teams to allocate, distribute, and remind visitors to wear masks and disinfect hands, etc.
Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung asked relevant departments and agencies to continue to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with localities to implement key tasks in the management and organization of festivals in 2021; focus on building interdisciplinary inspection plans, resolutely handle violations; promote codes of conduct among the public; strengthen inspection to ensure traffic safety, security order, food safety and hygiene, and fire and explosion prevention, etc.
Vice Chairman Chu Xuan Dung suggested that Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports publicize a hotline to receive and handle complaints from people related to incidents and unusual events at ceremonies and festivals, and cooperate with Department of Health to follow up updates on Covid-19 in the world, Vietnam, and Hanoi in order to promptly advise the city to issue guiding documents. The localities need to develop detailed plans, set specific tasks and have all levels develop plans on organizing festivals while taking epidemic prevention and control measures, ensuring that festivals can only be held when Covid-19 prevention and control is guaranteed.
Thanh Thuy