Hundreds of people have run out to the streets in HCM City as they tried to collect money thrown out by local people for the dead spirits during the Vu Lan Festival.
During the festival, many companies in District 5 often hold offering ceremonies to unquiet spirits. The offerings are huge and varied with hope that the spirits will not cause trouble for their businesses.
After the owner light the incense and burn the paper votive gifts, people can take away the offerings that are out on the streets. Most of the offerings are pork, roasted duck, fruits and porridge. The owner then throws away the rest to the streets, trying to give the offerings to wandering spirits outside.
Nowadays, more and more people start to use real money in this kind of event. And as a result, people run over each other to catch as much money as possible.
On Tran Hung Dao Street, hundreds of people waited outside for the offerings, a group of young people even prepared rackets and nets. When the owner went out to the balcony and threw the money out, the chaos began.
The police was sent to keep order but the streets were swamped with a large number of people. After catching enough money, a group of people quickly ran to their motorbikes to go to the next location.
Some photos of the event:
Waiting outside for the offerings
Street crowded as people try to catch money
There are many VND10,000 and VND5,000 banknotes
