From early morning on the 9th day of the 3rd lunar month, the Bao Quoc Temple area on Hung Vuong Avenue (Hoa Thanh town) was much more bustling than in previous years thanks to the appearance of a dragon mascot handcrafted entirely from fruits, attracting a large number of people to admire and take pictures.
The Bao Quoc Temple, with its three vibrant and exquisitely crafted dragons, is the highlight attracting everyone to this year's Ancestor Commemoration Ceremony. On either side of the main gate are two gracefully curving dragons, showcasing their elegant forms with intricate scales made from hundreds of perfectly aligned fresh betel nuts. The dragons' manes are elaborately decorated with red chili peppers, yellow corn, and green winged beans, creating a striking color effect that extends along their bodies.
The unique fangs are skillfully crafted by artisans from pristine white garlic cloves. Adding to the exquisite detail, the dragon's head is adorned with vibrant flowers, and its whiskers gently hang down from green beans.
In the center of the gate, the prominent, majestic dragon head stands out, its intricate scales crafted from pieces of coconut shell. The beard and fur on the dragon's head are softly shaped using pineapple leaves, adding to its natural vibrancy. Particularly noteworthy is the dragon's nose, meticulously crafted by artisans using "scales" from a medicinal plant called "cat loi," a technique both exquisite and expressive.
The three dragons stand against a backdrop of lush green foliage, including palm leaves and betel nut trees. Surrounding them are charming, spinning windmill-like flower arrangements, handcrafted from coconut leaves, captivating viewers with their creativity and meticulous attention to detail.
Mr. Huynh Hung Viet, from the Tay Ninh City parish – the artisan in charge of crafting the mascot – shared: “When observing the space in front of Bao Quoc Temple, I came up with the idea that we needed to decorate it in a way that was both visually appealing and culturally significant. After discussing and agreeing on the idea with the Long Hoa – Long Thanh Bac parish, the main organizers of the Ancestor Commemoration ceremony, we started working on the dragon mascot model.”
According to Viet, creating the dragon mascot takes about two days of continuous work, because the materials are entirely fresh, such as betel nuts, corn, green beans, and coconut leaves, so they cannot be stored for long. However, the process of constructing the frame requires preparation a month in advance.
He further explained: "The frame-making process is very important. It has to be made of foam, molded dry first, and then the fruits and leaves can be attached. We reuse these frames every year, but we still have to modify and add a little creativity to ensure that each launch is more novel and visually appealing than the previous year."
Compared to previous years, this year's dragon is significantly more striking. Viet revealed that the new feature this year is the use of longer, older betel nuts instead of young ones so that the dragon's scales are more dense and dense. Finding the materials was also quite difficult.
"The corn has to be the right kind, small ones, because the regular corn is too big and difficult to shape. As for the nipa palm leaves, I have to order them all the way from Tra Vinh , it's so far, but thanks to a connection, they sent them up by truck for me," he recounted.
Regarding the cost, artisan Huynh Hung Viet said that the total cost of materials to complete the dragon mascot was about 30 million VND. As for the labor, everyone volunteered. Although it was hard work, Viet was very happy to see so many people, especially children, excitedly coming to take pictures.
"All of us who made this model did so out of a desire to contribute to the festival. We did it for fun, to spread the spirit of love for our national culture, not for any business," Viet confided.
From the moment it was completed the afternoon before the Ancestor Commemoration Day, the dragon mascot immediately became a special highlight, attracting many people, from young children to the elderly, who eagerly gathered around to capture impressive images.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Yen (Truong Tay commune, Hoa Thanh town) happily shared: "Every year I take my children to the Ancestor Commemoration ceremony. This year, I saw the beautiful and unique dragon statue while passing by, so I stopped early so the children could take pictures."
The appearance of the fruit-shaped dragon mascot not only adds color to the festival but also contributes to spreading cultural values, especially the tradition of creating animal figures from fruits, a characteristic feature of Cao Dai religion.
This year's commemoration of the Hung Kings' death anniversary, the 70th of its kind, is being held at Bao Quoc Temple, reflecting the temple's history and its deep connection to the spiritual life of the Cao Dai religious community and the people of Tay Ninh.
According to Ms. Huong Xuan, the parish administrator of Long Hoa - Long Thanh Bac, the Ancestor Commemoration Ceremony at Bao Quoc Temple has always attracted the attention of many people and religious followers in recent years. From the morning of the 9th, people and followers joined hands with the Management Board to prepare everything, ready to serve food to guests from near and far on the morning of the 10th of March. This year, the ceremony was organized with 300 trays of food to welcome everyone.
In a space rich with traditional colors, the dragon and fruit mascot appears as a highlight, subtly enhancing the festive atmosphere. Young people enjoy taking pictures, while the elderly express their admiration. In particular, this magnificent and elaborate decoration contributes to the vibrant cultural life across the country, especially with this year featuring major events such as the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).
Amidst the vibrant colors of today's festival, the sacred dragon is not only a cultural symbol but also a sacred reminder of our origins as descendants of the Dragon and the Immortal, of the nation-building contributions of the Hung Kings, instilling in each citizen a sense of pride and unity.
Hoa Khang - Khai Tuong
Source: https://baotayninh.vn/gio-to-hung-vuong-ruc-ro-linh-vat-rong-dam-da-hon-dan-toc-a188499.html
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