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A woman is burning incense sticks at a Buddhist temple in HCMC – PHOTOS: ADRIEN JEAN |
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Bamboo is cut into small stick |
This traditional practice is done both at home on the ancestors’ altar and worshiping place, particularly pagodas, on the most important days of the lunar calendar (1st and 15th days of lunar month), as well as on the death anniversary of a loved one or on a baby’s birth, and of course for Tet, the Lunar New Year. It is part of people’s daily life and, so to speak, of the country’s cultural identity.
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Incense and long circular sticks are burning in a temple in HCMC’s District 1 |
In the following photo essay pictured in HCMC, the whole process of incense production—from chopping bamboo rods into small pieces to the final packaging—is way more complicated than one may think and requires dedication at each stage.
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Incense sticks are dipped into colorful dyes until the right shade of the desired color is achieved |
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A young man is collecting dry incense sticks. After being dyed, these small bamboo sticks will be sun-dried |
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In this phase, powder is mixed with other ingredients to make the final burning powder |
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Burning paste is added to the dry incense sticks |
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The burning part is applied to dry incense sticks |
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Incense sticks are spread out so that they can become dry quicker |
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Dry incense sticks are gathered… |
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… and sorted out to pick the good sticks from broken ones |
