Many waited in line for over an hour to receive blessed offerings.

A sacred tradition at Jade Emperor Pagoda

Built in the early 20th century by a Cantonese-Chinese immigrant named Luu Minh, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most famous and spiritually significant temples in Saigon. It gained international attention when former U.S. President Barack Obama visited in May 2016.

According to Vietnamese folklore, the eighth day of the Lunar New Year is for praying to the stars, the ninth day is for honoring heavenly deities, and the tenth day is for worshipping the Earth God.

As a result, the ninth day of the lunar calendar sees a massive influx of worshippers at Phuoc Hai Pagoda, seeking blessings from the Jade Emperor.

Inside the main hall, devotees packed the space, performing rituals of prayer and offering. To reduce smoke inhalation, the pagoda encouraged visitors to use candles instead of incense.

Lighting the oil lamp: A key ritual for blessings

One of the most significant customs during the Jade Emperor's blessing ceremony is pouring oil into the sacred lamps. In front of the Jade Emperor’s altar, worshippers take turns adding cooking oil to the lamps while reciting their names and wishes, symbolizing a smooth and successful year ahead.

After completing their prayers, many visitors collected lucky charms, fortune slips, and protective amulets, believing they would receive divine protection and good fortune.

Offerings to the Jade Emperor, known as "Luc Le" (Six Ritual Offerings), typically include incense, candles, flowers, and fruits.

Pham Thang from Cu Chi shared that he queued for an hour before receiving blessed oranges and an oil lamp to take home. "Every year, my family and I make it a priority to visit the pagoda and bring home some blessings for a lucky new year," he said.

Due to the large crowd, the pagoda’s management restricted the number of incense sticks each visitor could light, allowing only one incense stick per person outside the main hall to prevent excessive smoke and fire hazards.

A citywide tradition for the new year

Many office workers took advantage of their lunch breaks to visit the pagoda, offering quick prayers before heading back to work.

My Ngoc, 24, and her colleagues traveled from District 7 to District 1 to visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda. "Even at noon, the crowd was overwhelming. We were drenched in sweat while waiting in line," she said.

As the afternoon progressed, the pagoda’s entrances and pathways remained packed with worshippers, while stalls selling spiritual items saw brisk business.

Kim Xuyen from Thu Duc City said: "At the start of the year, I always buy prayer beads and lucky charms to carry with me for good fortune."

To ensure order and safety, security personnel were stationed at all four corners of the pagoda, reminding visitors to follow the queue, avoid walking against traffic flow, and keep their prayers brief.

For many, the Jade Emperor blessing ceremony is not just a spiritual tradition, but also a moment to express gratitude to the heavens and ancestors, wishing for a prosperous and peaceful year ahead.

Dao Phuong