Pilgrimage season

Every year in the seventh lunar month, An Giang becomes a spiritual destination for numerous pilgrims seeking to visit and admire the many temples.

Mount Cam is a popular destination for pilgrims. Photo: MY LINH

The Bay Nui area is crowded with tourists.

Early in the morning, crowds of people head towards the Bay Nui area – a region encompassing many mountains with beautiful natural landscapes and numerous sacred temples – to make pilgrimages, praying for good fortune and peace. Known as the "roof of the Western region," Mount Cam is currently welcoming groups of pilgrims from all over, their hearts filled with reverence for Buddha. During the pilgrimage months, Mount Cam is always a popular destination because it not only boasts the giant Maitreya Buddha statue and the majestic Van Linh Pagoda, but also offers a cool atmosphere and tranquil scenery that brings peace and serenity to the soul.

Offering incense at Van Linh Pagoda, Mr. Le Van Nam, residing in Cu Lao Gieng commune, shared: “Every year in the 7th lunar month, I and a few close friends from the neighborhood visit the pagodas in Bay Nui, climb Mount Cam, and then go through the Tinh Bien and Thoi Son wards to visit the pagodas, temples, and shrines there to pray for peace for my family and loved ones, and to remember my deceased parents.” Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen, residing in Long Xuyen ward, said: “Every year I take my two children to the pagoda on Mount Cam. I don't pray for much, just for peace for my family, and for my children to be healthy and well-behaved. Besides worshipping Buddha, it's also a fun outing for my children before the new school year starts.” Mr. Nguyen Van Tong, residing in Dong Thap province, who frequently makes pilgrimages to the Bay Nui area, said: “The reason why pilgrimage groups always choose Bay Nui in An Giang province as their destination is because there are many temples and shrines here associated with oral traditions that encourage people to cultivate their minds and characters, reflect on themselves, and admonish themselves to live good lives.”

Not only the Bay Nui area, but also the temples in Vinh Te ward attract a large number of pilgrims. Besides the famous Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain, which attracts many tourists year-round, in the 7th lunar month, many pilgrims also visit Tay An and Phuoc Dien temples to offer incense and pray to Buddha. With its lush green scenery on the slopes of Sam Mountain, Phuoc Dien Temple is a popular choice for pilgrims to visit and experience the vast, peaceful landscape of the border region. Ms. Pham Thi Thu Trang, a resident of Can Tho City, said: “Every time I come to Phuoc Dien Temple, I feel like all my worries are lifted. Since the Vu Lan festival is in the 7th lunar month, I visit many other temples to pray for my parents' health and family harmony.”

A journey back to the simple things.

For pilgrims, offerings at temples are usually not overly elaborate, without lavish feasts. Many choose to offer flowers, incense, pray, and do charity work to express their devotion to Buddhism. Ms. Thuy, a resident of Vinh Te ward, shared: "In the seventh lunar month, I don't go far, I only visit temples in the area, near my house. I teach my children to put their savings in piggy banks to do charity work, sowing good seeds for the children."

The pilgrimage season is also a busy time for fruit and flower vendors near temples and markets in the Bay Nui region or Chau Doc market. Ms. Hien, a fruit vendor at Chau Doc market, said: “In the seventh lunar month, the number of pilgrims and mountain visitors is three or four times higher than usual, and they travel in groups. Some go to worship Buddha, others to gather medicinal herbs or visit scenic spots… At this time, fruit and flower vendors are doing very well.”

In the seventh lunar month, on the full moon day, charitable activities at temples in the Bay Nui area in particular, and throughout the province in general, are very active. Some places provide free vegetarian meals for pilgrims, while others cook and serve free meals to visitors. For those participating in these charitable activities, cooking vegetarian rice, noodles, and pancakes to serve pilgrims and visitors is a joy, a way of sowing good karma in life.

The July pilgrimage is not just about visiting temples and worshipping Buddha, but also a journey back to the simple, genuine things in each person's heart. July includes the Vu Lan Festival, expressing filial piety. During this month, every child wants to do good deeds to pray for the health and peace of their parents. With these positive meanings, the July pilgrimage in An Giang is seen as a harmonious blend of faith and life. Each step of the pilgrimage not only leads people towards the Buddha's door but also brings them closer to the good things in life. Therefore, to ensure that these pilgrimages are truly civilized and meaningful, activities promoting the avoidance of superstition, maintaining public hygiene, and preserving beautiful cultural traditions need to be emphasized and promoted.

MY LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mua-hanh-huong-a427499.html