The event also saw the attendance of the Secretary of HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, HCM City People's Committee Chairman Phan Van Mai, and the chairwoman of the city's People's Council Nguyen Thi Le.
The ritual drew over 100 Vietnamese people who have returned from 28 countries and territories to celebrate the Tet Lunar New Year Festival and participate in the annual Homeland Spring Programme 2024.
In Vietnamese tradition, the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods’ worshipping ritual is held on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, which falls on February 2 this year.
As the legend goes, the Land Genie is responsible for the land while Kitchen Gods, consisting of two males and one female, are those who keep watch over the kitchen or domestic affairs of a family. They take note of a family’s issues in a year and will ride carp back to Heaven on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month to report all the good and bad things concerning that family to the Jade Emperor.
Before conducting the carp release ritual, State President Thuong, his spouse and the delegation offered incense and flowers in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Ton Duc Thang.