The Tran Temple’s seal opening ceremony, which starts every year at 11 p.m. on the 14th day of the first lunar month, or February 18 this year, in the northern province of Nam Dinh, has seen throngs of pilgrims from across the country rushing to obtain a lucky seal stamp, the local media reported.

Nam Dinh Province's Tran Temple is teeming with people on February 18

Tuoi Tre Online noted that on the afternoon of February 18 residents from provinces across the country had flooded the Tran Temple, touted as one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations, to burn incense to pay tribute to the Tran Kings and national hero Tran Hung Dao as well as pray for their health and wealth.

Most people participating in the festival expressed belief that the seal stamp would help them make progress and fulfill all their wishes, so they tried to participate in the festival despite being tired and enduring a long wait and crowds.

Although hundreds of people showed signs of fatigue from not sleeping all night, they were still patient as they sat in long queues for three to four hours prior to lucky seal stamps being delivered.

Nhung and her husband from Thai Nguyen Province arrived at the temple one hour before the seal was opened, finding a moment’s rest on a steel chair since the temple was filled to capacity.

Phung Thi An, 70, a member of a group of 11 from Vinh Phuc Province, approached the temple on February 18 and had a sleepless night waiting for the seal opening ceremony to begin.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Tan Vu, a resident of HCMC, arrived at the temple at 5 a.m. on February 19 and obtained three lucky seal stamps at 6 a.m.

As the stamp-delivering activity was carried out professionally and smoothly, thousands of people received stamps within one hour.

The organizer of the festival will continue to offer lucky seal stamps every day until the end of the first or second lunar month, depending on demand.

The police of Nam Dinh Province remarked that at 6 p.m. on February 18, over 2,000 officers, traffic police officers and militiamen were dispatched to the temple to ensure security and safety.

SGT