Meet the designer of the 18-petal lotus model embracing the Buddha's relic tower at Tam Chuc Pagoda

We met Ms. Le Thi Luong - a flower stylist who devoted much of her time to designing and constructing the special flower model at Tam The Temple of Tam Chuc Pagoda, when she was moving around like a shuttle to urge the work, preparing to bring the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni to enshrine at the temple from today.

Ms. Luong is highly focused on completing the decoration of Tam The temple.

Ms. Luong has 26 years of experience in flower making, and has participated in many events such as the lotus festival, Me Linh flower festival...

She said: “I was very lucky to receive an invitation to participate in decorating the procession to welcome the Buddha’s relics to be enshrined at Tam Chuc Pagoda. I was responsible for designing and constructing 17 Buddha procession cars as well as all the flower decorations in the Tam The main hall of the pagoda.”

Nearly 100 people rushed to build a special and meaningful flower model

With only 12 hours to complete the project, Ms. Luong quickly came up with an idea, mobilizing nearly 100 colleagues in the flower industry, friends, Buddhists near and far, and those who wanted to donate flowers to complete the product together.

By 5pm yesterday, she and her colleagues had completed 80% of the work, and by night they had completed the flower model at Tam The Temple, with two main types of flowers: white and yellow chrysanthemums.

Ms. Luong shared that this special flower model is not only large-scale with tens of thousands of chrysanthemums and lotus flowers, but is also imbued with the profound spirit and philosophy of Buddhism.

In the center of the Tam The main hall stands out the image of a 12-petal lotus flower, symbolizing the twelve links of dependent origination. The stupa of Buddha's relics is surrounded by an 18-petal lotus flower. In Buddhism, the lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment.

The entire lotus pond model below uses 100% real lotus flowers, with smoke and fragrance. In the lotus pond there is a flamingo - a symbol in India, symbolizing overcoming suffering.

“The idea of ​​a lotus pond originates from the Amitabha Sutra, which has a seven-jewel lotus pond. The first four flower pillars in the lotus pond symbolize the Four Noble Truths - the first fundamental teaching of Buddha. I plan for the theme of this flower model to be 'Enlightenment of the Lotus' or 'Twelve Lotus Hearts',” Ms. Luong shared.

It is estimated that the number of chrysanthemums forming lotus flowers at Tam The Temple is up to 11,000 flowers. With about 350 lotus pots, every day there are 5,000-7,000 fresh lotus flowers continuously brought in to replace the old ones. Lotus flowers are prioritized from Ha Nam and the Van Dai Lotus Cooperative (where there are the most unique lotus varieties in Vietnam).

“With this model, the durable flowers will be constructed first, and the fresh flowers will be constructed later. For example, the lotus flowers are being soaked to be fresh, and will be brought to Tam The temple at 3am on May 17. We time the lotus flowers to bloom around 10-11am, when the Buddha’s relics are invited back. At that time, everyone will see a whole pond of white lotuses and their fragrance,” Ms. Luong revealed.

Having devoted all her efforts to the design and decoration of the event that many people say “occurs once in a thousand years”, Ms. Luong only hopes that everyone who has the opportunity to come here to worship the Buddha’s relics will have a sincere heart, learn the Buddha’s vows and teachings to practice in daily life, and fulfill their responsibilities to their families and society.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/gap-nguoi-lam-mo-hinh-hoa-sen-18-canh-om-thap-xa-loi-duc-phat-o-chua-tam-chuc-2401944.html