Bai
Dinh Pagoda Festival starts from January 6th. Formerly, the festival only lasts
for a week. Recently, with the attention and investment of the State, the
complex has been upgraded into a larger cultural site which is famous not only
for Vietnamese but also for foreign tourists. The festival today lasts for the
whole spring in order for visitors to have more time to enjoy the beautiful and
marvelous style of the complex. Since the opening of the festival, and even
during the Tet holiday, many local people as well as visitors come to Bai Dinh.
Almost all caves and pagodas are covered with incense-smoke; the festive
atmosphere seems to overwhelm this peaceful rural area.
The
ceremonies at Bai Dinh Pagoda are quite solemn since it does not only worship
the Buddha and Gods, but it also attach with many important historical events
of the nation with famous people like Quang Trung, Dinh Bo Linh, etc. That’s
why the ceremony is more solemn. There are the cult for the nature, religion,
Buddhism and even Confucianism. In festival days, local people carry out the
ceremony to greet the God out from the grotto. The ceremony is accompanied by
many people performing the traditional musical instrument or holding flags;
besides, the villagers both young and old do take part in this ceremony.
During
the festival days, you can join in a mixed atmosphere where the youth is so
energetic, the elderly is so sincere and the tourists are so happy. The complex
seems to be more crowded with many groups of people stay in lines to visit the pagodas.
You may not be familiar with all people here but they are all very friendly.
The greeting of “Nammo a di da Phat” seems to be the most common words to be
heard between strangers when they encounter each other. The atmosphere there is
likely to connect people closer. It reflects the friendliness and hospitability
of local people.
Bai
Dinh Mountain is formed by two bow-shaped ranges of mountain which face the
west. These mountains cover a three-hectare-large valley called Thung Chua
(Chua Valley). Passing through more than 300 rock steps, you will reach the Bai
Dinh Mountain top, you will reach a cavern. It is said that “Mr. Red Face”, the
guard of the pagoda complex is also worshipped in a grotto on the path leading
to the cavern on top.
Tourists
then reach an intersection: on the right hand side is the cavern which worships
the Buddha, on the left hand side is another cavern which worship the Fairy.
Step in and you will be impressed by the solemn statues situated within
fanciful scenery; you may feel like you are in a fairy land with illusory
thought.
After
that, tourists will have chance to visit another grotto which worship a
talented general of Hung King named Than Cao Son. Continue to move forward,
tourists will reach a green valley with many species of precious herbs which
had once been used by Thanh Nguyen (Nguyen God) to produce magical medicines.
Today, such kinds of herbs are still used by local people for medical purpose.
There
are many other caverns and grottos to be visited like Tien Cavern (Fairy
Cavern) with seven smaller caves inside. Bà Chúa Thượng Ngàn (Godess of the
Forest) is worshipped here. There are fanciful stalactites around, each of
which can be named by the imagination of tourists. The time has left its
remains on these stalactites; and now they have become wonderful works of the
nature.
Coming
to Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, tourists will find that there is a love for nature
in this historical festival. It is a chance for each visitor to memorize back
to the past when their forefather started to set up the country.
There
are many activities like ném còn (throwing ball), play cards, tug of war) to
take place during the festival days which attract the participation of many
tourists. Many traditional games which are held during the Tet holiday are also
interesting for visitors.
This
article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam
For
original article, please visit:
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