Stepping foot to pour balm oil to rub tiger statue hoping to cure all diseases at Huong Tich pagoda

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 1

On the morning of February 15 (January 6), Huong Tich Pagoda - also known as Huong Pagoda in Ha Tinh - officially opened its festival. The pagoda is located near Huong Tich peak, in the Hong Linh mountain range in Thien Loc commune (Can Loc district, Ha Tinh) at an altitude of 650m above sea level.

The pagoda is known as "Hoan Chau's most famous landscape", one of the 21 scenic spots of ancient An Nam. The pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty, 13th century, associated with the story of Princess Dieu Thien - daughter of King Trang Vuong of So country who practiced Buddhism and became a Buddha.

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 2

This year, the weather is favorable for visitors to visit the pagoda and worship. On the morning of the opening day, Huong Tich Pagoda welcomed tens of thousands of visitors. Motorbikes and cars filled the parking lot.

Huong Tich Pagoda is located halfway up Huong Tich peak, one of the most beautiful peaks among the 99 peaks of Hong Mountain. To reach the pagoda, visitors go through different routes.

Initially, visitors can choose to take the tram for a distance of 4.5km or take a boat for a distance of more than 3km and then walk 1.4km.

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 6

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 7

When arriving at the temple, visitors can buy tickets to take the cable car to the main temple. Many people choose this way to save time and energy.

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 8

For tourists who are in good health and want to walk and enjoy the scenery, they choose to climb the mountain with a route of more than 1km.

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 9

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 10

The upper shrine of Huong Tich Pagoda is the destination of many visitors. They come here to offer offerings and burn incense to pray for a new year of favorable weather, peace, and luck.

Chen chân đổ dầu gió xoa tượng hổ mong chữa bách bệnh ở chùa Hương Tích - 11

According to Dan Tri reporters, the entrance to the main hall of Huong Tich Pagoda has a tiger statue in a resting position next to the altar, attracting many tourists. This tiger statue is made of concrete, painted yellow. Many people jostle to come here to burn incense, pray and wait for their turn to touch the statue.

They believe that this tiger statue can cure all diseases, so they prepare essential oils and scented bags. After applying the oil, they rub and touch many parts of the statue and then rub similar parts of their own bodies.

The temple once posted a sign prohibiting visitors from touching the tiger statue to avoid spreading superstition and damaging the statue, but due to the large number of visitors, the management board could not control them all.

Source link