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Hanoi calls for church bells to mark lunar new year

Communist Party orders cities not to set off fireworks but save money to provide aid for poor people
Hanoi calls for church bells to mark lunar new year
Published: January 05, 2017 05:42 AM GMT
Updated: January 05, 2017 05:42 AM GMT

The Hanoi city government has asked churches and temples to ring bells on the eve of the lunar new year instead of staging firework displays.

The move is in line with a Secretariat of the Central Committee Communist Party of Vietnam directive to cities and provinces throughout the country not to set off fireworks during the Tet festival, but save money to provide aid for poor people.

"We have appealed in writing to churches, temples and other worship places to ring bells to usher in the lunar new year,” To Van Dong, head of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, told a press meeting on Jan. 3.

Dong hopes that the sound of bells will replace firework displays to celebrate the lunar new year or Tet that lasts Jan. 26 - Feb. 1.

He also said that the government will prevent superstitions and unsound customs and will not give permission to all the festival to be used for commercial purposes.

Vietnam has 7,966 festivals, most of them relating to folklore and religion. Many major festivals take place during the first lunar months.

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