Cultural beauty of going to pagoda at the beginning of the year

For Vietnamese people, Tet not only means reunion, farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, Tet is also the time when people go to temples and pagodas to pray for blessings and peace for the whole family. And the custom of going to the temple at the beginning of the year is not only a religious ritual, but also a meaningful experience for many people...

In front of Buddha, people often pray for wealth, fortune and peace.

Right after the New Year's Eve, many families went to the temple to burn incense and pray for the best things in the new year. Stepping into the temples on this occasion, everyone will be immersed in a solemn and cozy atmosphere. The smoke of incense mixed with the spring air that is pouring in the cold weather makes everyone feel nostalgic and emotional.

Clasping her hands respectfully in front of the Buddha gate of Quang Huu Pagoda, Thanh Lang town, Binh Xuyen district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung sincerely prayed for peace for her whole family, hoping that everything would be smooth and prosperous in the new year.

Mrs. Dung shared: “Every year, after the New Year's Eve offering, my two daughters-in-law and I go to the local pagoda to perform the ceremony. This not only makes me feel light and peaceful, but also helps strengthen the bond between my mother-in-law and my daughters-in-law in the family. For me, this is not only a religious ceremony, but also an opportunity for each person to seek personal connection with spiritual values.”

The gate of the Buddhist temple is a peaceful and pure place. When coming to the Buddha's gate, the Holy gate, joining the stream of people performing the ceremony, each of us will feel the harmony of heaven and earth, at that time, each person's soul will feel strangely light and serene. Coming here, people often pray for wealth, fortune, and peace, but many people also come to the temple just to find peaceful and relaxing moments to dispel the worries and hardships in life.

At the moment of transition between the old year and the new year, the space of the temples seems to become more sacred. The sound of gentle chants and the scent of incense sticks spread throughout the space, creating a peaceful and serene state of mind. During the ceremony, the worship and prayer ceremony takes place, giving people the space and time to find peace, reflect on the past year and the coming new year.

Not only do women go to pagodas, but many young men and women also go to Ha pagoda at the beginning of the new year.

Tet is coming, Spring is coming, many people believe that going to the pagoda at the beginning of the year not only brings spiritual faith but also creates a beginning for a new journey. For young people, going to the pagoda at the beginning of the year is not only to pray for good things for themselves and their families, but also an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the purity of the sacred place in the Spring. That is why on the first day of Tet, at Ha pagoda, Vinh Yen city, not only women and mothers come to worship, but also groups of young men and women come here very early.

After the ceremony at the altars, groups of young people strolled to admire the scenery of Ha Pagoda. Pretty girls in flowing ao dai, holding small bouquets of flowers in their hands, and young men dressed politely and elegantly… leisurely admiring the scenery of Ha Pagoda contributed to making the spring at the temple of Buddha land even more radiant.

Nguyen Khanh Huyen from Lien Bao ward, Vinh Yen city shared: “I am a student studying far from home, so I am very happy to be able to return to my family during the Lunar New Year holiday. This is a very meaningful time for me, and it is even more meaningful when on the morning of the first day of Tet, I and my siblings go to Ha pagoda to worship with the grandmothers and mothers. Coming to the pagoda, I not only immerse myself in the sacred space, take a walk and enjoy the spring scenery, but it also helps me understand more about the cultural traditions of the nation, thereby seeing my responsibility in preserving that beauty.”

For every Vietnamese person, going to the pagoda at the beginning of the year is a traditional cultural feature that has been formed for a long time, creating a colorful picture in an advanced culture imbued with national identity. Therefore, life is increasingly modern and civilized, but the cultural beauty of going to the pagoda at the beginning of the year is always preserved by the people. It is not only a place for religious rituals to take place, but also an opportunity for everyone to unite, share their beliefs and hopes for a new year full of happiness and meaning.

Thuy Nga

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