Going to temples and pagodas is a beautiful cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people, which has existed for a long time. Quang Ninh with more than 600 historical and cultural relics, mainly communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines, welcomes millions of people to visit and worship every year, the most crowded is going to worship in spring.
Folklore still has a saying: "A hundred years of accumulating virtue and practicing/ If you have not been to Yen Tu, you have not achieved the results of your practice". It is also said that if you go to Yen Tu for 3 consecutive years, you will "receive the ceremony, receive the worship", and have much luck. Through research, cultural researchers believe that when people come to the temple, they already have a heart, that is the consciousness of repentance, of goodness, wanting to put aside the worries in life, praying for good things such as health, luck, and peace. And when coming to the Buddha's door, there is no distinction, everyone is the same, regardless of rank, status...
In recent years, Yen Tu (Uong Bi City) has welcomed about 1 million visitors each year. We have conducted small surveys of visitors and found that not only the elderly and middle-aged but also many young people regularly come here to worship every spring. They are sometimes from Quang Ninh, many also come from neighboring provinces such as Hai Phong, Hanoi, Hai Duong... And they do not only go for 3 years but many go for 5 years, 7 years continuously with family, groups of friends, and can even go alone, unless there are special reasons they break their appointment.
Talking to us, Mr. Le Tien Dung, Head of the Management Board of Yen Tu National Monuments and Forests, said: Yen Tu has 10 pagodas, starting from Trinh Pagoda, passing through Suoi Tam Pagoda, Lan Pagoda, Cam Thuc Pagoda, Giai Oan Pagoda, Hoa Yen Pagoda, Mot Mai Pagoda, Bao Sai Pagoda, Van Tieu Pagoda to the final point of Dong Pagoda at an altitude of 1,068m above sea level. Most people and tourists coming to Yen Tu learn and know all about the pagodas here, but due to the roads, time, and purpose of each person, the journey can visit all the pagodas or reduce some pagodas.
However, the vast majority go through places such as To tower - Hoa Yen pagoda - Dong pagoda, with the meaning that Hoa Yen is the main pagoda, a little lower down is To tower which is the place to worship the relics of King Tran Nhan Tong. Dong pagoda has the highest position, located on the sacred peak of Yen Tu, not obscured by anything, facing straight up to the sky. Therefore, the pilgrimage time to Yen Tu pagoda can last a few days or only take half a day to reach Dong pagoda.
Not only Yen Tu, but also going to pagodas and temples at the beginning of the year is a tradition, entering the common consciousness of Vietnamese people. Cua Ong Temple (Cam Pha) is also a historical and cultural relic that attracts many tourists every year in the province. Not only tourists in the area but also from many neighboring provinces come here, especially those whose jobs are related to rivers. Sharing with us, a leader of the temple management unit said that many people go to Cua Ong Temple with the spirit of "presenting at the beginning of the year, thanking at the end of the year". In particular, unlike many other temples and pagodas, for many years now, many people have gone to Cua Ong Temple right after the New Year's Eve, to pray for health, luck, and smooth and favorable work in the new year...
Through research on incense offering and offerings at temples and pagodas, it can be seen that there have been some changes in the past. For example, regarding incense offering, in recent years, pagodas and temples in the province have posted warning signs, asking people and tourists not to burn incense inside the temple. Propaganda work has also been widely carried out, strongly changing people's awareness, thereby eliminating the suffocating incense smoke in the temple, while ensuring safety and better fire prevention for ancient structures that have many wooden structures...
There are also many different ways to make offerings. Observations at some large temples and pagodas in the province show that many groups and families prepare elaborate offerings from incense, flowers, fruits, and various kinds of food. In addition, many people who do not have the conditions to prepare will choose simple rituals, offering incense and releasing offerings directly with the belief that the offering depends on each person's sincerity. One thing to note is that when making offerings at Buddhist altars, it must be vegetarian, not meat offerings. Pagodas, temples, and shrines are all sacred spaces, so when coming here, everyone needs to dress politely, discreetly, simply, and behave carefully, speak softly, and appropriately...
Source
Comment (0)