Crowds of worshippers gathered at Mariamman Temple on Truong Dinh Street in Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, on October 20 to make offerings and pray during the annual festival honoring the Hindu goddess Mariamman.

The festival lasts 10 days and culminates on the main celebration day, the 11th day of the ninth lunar month.

It is an occasion for devotees to honor the goddess, express their devotion and present offerings while praying for favorable weather, good health, harmonious marriages, peaceful lives and good fortune.

At around 9 a.m., the sound of bells signaled the beginning of the main religious ceremonies.

The officiating priest carried a tray of oil lamps into the shrine dedicated to Mariamman, marking the start of the ceremonial palanquin procession within the temple grounds.

Led by the priest carrying a sacred flame, the palanquin bearing the goddess's image was carried three times around the main sanctuary.

A procession of worshippers followed, offering flowers and prayers in an atmosphere of reverence.

Flowers from the ceremonial palanquin were later distributed to devotees attending the festival.

According to the Mariamman Temple management board, Mariamman, meaning "Mother Mari," is a South Indian goddess associated with rainfall, fertility and protection against disease.

She is revered as a mother goddess in rural communities across the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

In local religious traditions, the goddess is closely associated with plants, the earth and the everyday lives of rural communities, particularly those of limited means.

Sacred fire and forehead-marking rituals draw worshippers

Following the palanquin procession, devotees participated in the traditional fire blessing ritual.

Many approached the sacred flame held by the officiating priest to receive blessings.

In the ceremony, fire symbolizes health and the energy believed to dispel darkness.

Another popular ritual involved applying a traditional red mark to the forehead.

The red mark carries symbolic meanings associated with honor, love and prosperity.

The ceremonies continued in a solemn atmosphere as worshippers expressed their devotion to Mariamman and prayed for good health, family harmony and peaceful lives.

Hindu temple adorned with flowers and traditional decorations

During the festival, the temple grounds were decorated with colorful flowers, mango leaves and young coconut fronds woven into shapes resembling birds and arrows.

Banana plants bearing flowers, fruit and fresh green leaves were also used as decorations, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The annual Mariamman festival is among the religious celebrations that attract large numbers of worshippers to the Hindu temple in central Ho Chi Minh City.

Traditional Indian religious ceremonies have been preserved at the temple, while participation has expanded to include local residents and visitors from different backgrounds.

Mariamman Temple, also known locally as the Indian Goddess Temple, was originally built to serve the city's Indian Hindu community.

Over time, it has opened its doors to worshippers and tourists from many places, who visit to offer incense, participate in religious ceremonies and experience the temple's distinctive cultural traditions.

Nguyen Hue