Mr. Thai Cong No pointed to the National Monument ranking of the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain, his face radiating pride in the cultural and historical value of this place.
A lifetime dedicated to the Lady's Temple.
When mentioning those dedicated to the Lady of Sam Mountain Temple (Sam Mountain Ward, Chau Doc City), one cannot fail to mention Mr. Thai Cong No. Mr. No has devoted 40 years of his life to this place. At the age of 75, he remains dedicated every day, working with the management board to arrange worship rituals, assist pilgrims, and maintain the solemnity of the temple. During peak days like the Lady of Sam Mountain festival, the number of pilgrims reaches millions, but thanks to his extensive experience, all ceremonies proceed smoothly.
For him, this job is not just a task, but a responsibility to the long-standing beliefs of this land. Throughout his many years at the temple, he has heard countless stories from people who come to worship and pray for wealth and peace, as well as some particularly memorable cases. Mr. Nô recounted: “There was a man in Bac Lieu who had failed in business. One night, he dreamt of a woman who told him to go southwest to seek blessings. He went to the temple, offered prayers, and then returned to his hometown to raise shrimp, which resulted in a bountiful harvest. After his success, he returned to the temple to give thanks.”
Not only the locals but also Mr. No himself places his faith in the sacredness of the Lady of the Mountain. Mr. No shared: “When I first came here to work, life was difficult. But thanks to the Lady's blessings, I was able to open a pharmacy, and my business is thriving. For every major event in my life, I pray to the Lady, hoping that everything will go smoothly.” It is this belief in the Lady of the Mountain of Sam that has kept him connected to this place until now.
Preserving the village communal house - preserving the soul of the homeland.
Meanwhile, the Vinh Thanh Trung communal temple (Vinh Thanh Trung town, Chau Phu district) embodies traditional cultural values and is closely intertwined with the spiritual life of the local people. Here, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Van (73 years old), Head of the Ritual Committee, has been associated with this temple for 17 years. His involvement in this work came naturally. Initially, Mr. Van only participated in worship activities with the local people. But over time, he realized the temple needed someone to care for it, organize festivals, and maintain traditional rituals. When the Ritual Committee needed a manager, he decided to take on this responsibility.
Every day, Mr. Van and the temple's management committee take care of the incense burning, arrange the offerings, and organize the Upper Field, Ky Yen, and Lower Field festivals. In particular, he established an incense-serving team, assigning staff to be on duty 24/7 to meticulously serve the worship needs of the people, even though he receives no salary. I only hope that the entire management committee will continue to work together to preserve this temple so that the place of worship remains dignified and respectful.
Mr. Van recounted a story he still remembers: “In the 1980s, a major fire broke out near the temple, but the flames didn't reach the main hall. The villagers believed that thanks to the protection of the tutelary deity, the temple remained standing. There were also times when the temple lacked funds, so we offered incense and prayed, and the villagers voluntarily contributed, helping the temple to have enough money for repairs.” Despite societal changes, the temple remains a place where people turn to whenever they face difficulties. They come here to worship and find peace, a spiritual refuge amidst the hustle and bustle of life.
A belief and passion passed down through generations.
Whether it's a shrine dedicated to the Goddess or a village communal house, those who look after these places share a common aspiration: to preserve the beliefs and traditions for future generations. Mr. No shared that, in his twilight years, he has passed on all his knowledge and experience to the next generation to prevent the ancient rituals from fading away. Mr. Van believes that there will be a successor generation to continue the work of looking after and preserving the communal house, just like in a family, where one generation follows another. Mr. Van understands that preserving the communal house is not just his responsibility alone, but a collective effort of the entire community, so that cultural and spiritual values are cherished and preserved through each generation.
They are unsung heroes, needing no recognition or praise. Yet, it is they who have contributed to preserving the cultural essence and maintaining folk beliefs for future generations. No matter how much time passes, these temple guardians will remain as quiet and dedicated as they have always been...
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhung-nguoi-gac-mieu-giu-dinh-tham-lang-a417564.html
Comment (0)