Preserving the craft of making paper flowers for pagodas - The beauty of Kathina season

When the Kathina robe offering season - one of the major holidays of Khmer Theravada Buddhism - comes, households making paper flowers in the communes of Thuan Hoa, An Ninh, Phu Tam... of Can Tho City are busy entering the season. This traditional profession of more than half a century not only contributes to beautifying the festival atmosphere, but also preserves a unique cultural beauty of the Khmer people here.

Many households growing bougainvillea are busy entering the crop season.

Keeping the traditional craft alive

Along the way to Prés Buôl Prés Phék Pagoda, Thuan Hoa Commune, the image of Khmer women diligently working with stacks of colorful cellophane has become familiar every October and November. They meticulously cut and paste each petal and Bodhi leaf, combining them into brilliant flower clusters of yellow, red, purple, pink... Those cellophane flowers will be bought by Buddhists to offer to the pagoda during the Kathina festival, symbolizing their respect and gratitude to the Buddha and monks after the 3-month rainy season retreat.

Mrs. Thach Thi Sienh, Phuoc Hoa hamlet (Thuan Hoa commune), shared: “When I was a child, every time it was the season of offering flowers, Kathina in the pagoda, my mother often went to pick wild flowers, then cut colored paper into small pieces, folded - rolled - glued to create flower petals for me to go to the pagoda to offer flowers with the villagers. Since then, the craft of making flowers from cellophane paper in the village has spread to some hamlets, and the decorative materials have become more and more modern.”

The craft of making cellophane flowers has been around for more than half a century. Initially, people made them themselves to decorate pagodas during major holidays, and then gradually developed into a traditional craft. Despite many changes, people still maintain the meticulous, traditional, handmade method, instead of using modern industrial materials.

Ms. Ly Thi Sa Monh, resident of Phuoc Thuan hamlet (Thuan Hoa commune), who has been involved in the profession for nearly 40 years, shared: “Every Kathina season, my family cannot keep up with orders from the localities. Although it is hard, it is fun because we have more income for the family. The whole family works from morning to night, everyone tries to deliver products to customers on time. The peak season is in October and November (before the Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Race).

According to Ms. Sa Monh, the profession of making flower trees from cellophane does not require a large amount of capital, but mainly requires skill and patience. A skilled worker can complete a 60cm tall tree in a day; and a large tree with a height of 1.6m usually requires two people to do it together, with prices ranging from 160,000 VND to 1.5 million VND/pair, depending on the design and sophistication.

Thach Thi Lin Da, a young Khmer girl in Phuoc Thuan hamlet (Thuan Hoa commune), said: “I followed my mother to learn a trade since I was young. The income from this job is not high, but I am happy because I can contribute to beautifying the pagoda and festivals of my Khmer people.”

Preserving the beauty of Khmer culture

In the spiritual life of the Khmer people, bougainvillea offered to pagodas is not only decorative, but also a symbol of respect and wishes for peace. Each bougainvillea offered to pagodas is a heart of gratitude to the Three Jewels, praying for blessings and favorable weather.

Currently, in addition to Thuan Hoa commune, this profession is also maintained in An Ninh commune, Phu Tam commune..., each place has about 5-6 households attached to the profession. Venerable Thach Bonl, Abbot of Prés Buône Prés Phék pagoda, said: “The paper flower tree made of glass is a unique feature of the Khmer people. During the Kathina ceremony, in addition to fresh flowers, the paper flower trees made by the people and Buddhists themselves make the space more colorful and warm. The pagoda always encourages people to keep the profession, because that is the way to preserve the national cultural identity”.

This year, Kathina season has come again, the yellow, red and green colors of the bougainvillea are brilliant all over the Khmer Theravada pagodas. Each flower, each hand meticulously cutting and arranging is a testament to the love of the profession, the respect for Buddha and the enduring vitality of a traditional craft that has been preserved for more than half a century.

Article and photos: THACH PIC

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/giu-nghe-lam-hoa-giay-dang-chua-net-dep-mua-kathina-a193123.html