On the first day of the month, go to the pagoda to pray for peace at special pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City

(NLDO) - On the first day of the month (January 29), going to the temple to pray for peace and luck is a long-standing cultural feature of Vietnamese people.

Located peacefully next to Chanh Hung Bridge, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, An Phu Pagoda has become a unique spiritual destination, attracting a large number of tourists and locals. With an age of more than 150 years, this pagoda carries within it a meaningful story of creativity and perseverance.

On the morning of the first day, An Phu pagoda did not have as many people coming to worship as on New Year's Eve, but it still had a strong Tet atmosphere.

An Phu Pagoda (District 8, Ho Chi Minh City) is located near Chanh Hung Bridge, built by Venerable Thich Thanh Duc in 1847. Through many ups and downs, the pagoda gradually fell into disrepair until 1961, Venerable Thich Tu Bach designed and rebuilt the pagoda and completed it as it is today in 1999. The pagoda belongs to the Northern Sect, and has been under the leadership of 6 generations of abbots. The campus has an area of ​​about 1,500 m2.

The special feature of the pagoda is that almost the entire structure is covered with pieces of broken porcelain from bowls, plates, teapots, etc. This was done in 1961, when the pagoda began to be restored and rebuilt.

Vietnam Record Book Center established a record on November 30, 2007: An Phu Pagoda - The pagoda with the most ceramic pieces in Vietnam.

On the morning of the first day, Chantarangsay Pagoda (District 3) was brightly decorated to welcome guests.

The special feature of this pagoda lies in its architecture. Because it is a Khmer community temple in the heart of the city, following the Southern sect. The pagoda has a strong influence of Indian culture, including the custom of honoring the Naga snake god - a sacred creature considered the lord of snakes, manifested in the form of a majestic cobra.

"Going to the pagoda at the beginning of the new year is a traditional activity of mine. Going to the pagoda and doing good deeds at the beginning of the year is to pray for a good new year, because when you sow good karma, you will receive sweet results" - Ms. Thanh Thuy (living in District 7) shared.

"Going to the pagoda with my family and picking the first lucky branches of the year is what I look forward to the most every Tet holiday. I believe that it is a good thing to start a new year" - Mr. Dang (residing in Binh Tan district) expressed.

It is the first Khmer Theravada Buddhist temple built in the old Saigon - Gia Dinh area. This is a unique temple with many Naga snakes decorated. The multi-headed Naga snake symbolizes the bridge connecting the human world to the spiritual world. The most popular in Khmer temples in the South is the 5-headed Naga snake.

People visit the pagoda early on the first day of the month, fascinated by the architecture of Chantarangsay pagoda.

In Ho Chi Minh City today there are two Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples, Chantarangsay Pagoda and Pothiwong Pagoda in Tan Binh District.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/mung-1-di-chua-cau-an-tai-nhung-ngoi-chua-dac-biet-cua-tp-hcm-196250129112857212.htm