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Tens of thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhist followers and tourists
nationwide have flocked to pagodas and Spring festivals at the beginning of the
new-year, wishing for peace, good weather, happiness and prosperity for all.
The Bai Dinh pagoda festival opened on January 28 in Gia Sinh commune, Gia Vien
district, in the northern province of Ninh Binh.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, head of Bai Dinh pagoda, said that going to
the pagoda at the beginning of the new year is a spiritual cultural tradition of
the Vietnamese people. From the first day of the new year, thousands of visitors
went to offer incense and enjoy the pagoda’s atmosphere.
The pagoda on Dinh mountain dates back 1,000 years ago and the renovated one,
with construction starting in 2003, is one of the largest pagodas in Southeast
Asia. Its treasures include 12 national records, including a 30-tonne bronze
bell, a 150-tonne Buddha bronze statue and 500 Arhat statues.
On the same day, a festival to celebrate the uprising of the Trung Sisters
against Chinese rule 1,972 years ago was organised at a temple dedicated to the
sisters in Hanoi’s outlying district of Me Linh.
The three-day festival aims to commemorate the two national heroines, inspire
national pride and educate younger generations about patriotic traditions.
According to the Vietnamese historical account, Trung Trac and her younger
sister Trung Nhi, rode elephants to lead the troops in battle and defeated
Chinese troops coming from the north, gaining independence for the country after
more than two centuries of domination by the foreign feudal invaders.
The revolt was briefly successful and Trung Trac established herself as ruler of
an independent state, becoming the first royal leader and also the first female
leader in the country’s history. She chose Me Linh as a new capital.
Also on the sixth day of the lunar year, the Huong Tich pagoda festival opened
in Thien Loc commune, Can Loc district in the central province of Ha Tinh.
The spring festival has attracted 200,000 visitors since the first day of the
new year, doubling numbers at last year’s festival.
On this occasion, Ha Tinh inaugurated a 900m cable car transport system, which
includes 25 eight-seat cabins. It takes visitors only eight minutes for a round
trip.
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