Tây Khánh Pagoda- Thái Bình Welcoming Monkey Year

“Spring come, Summer will prolong” A year starts by Spring. As Spring comes when the nature is renovating, tender buds appear on trees, all things are full of vitality. Spring comes, bringing along a new breath of life, a new joy, a new happiness, and hopes for a bright future. Besides that, we have an occasion to catch traditional Tet of Vietnamese people ’s.

Having the same joy welcoming New Year of millions of Vietnamese people, Bodhimandala of Tay Khanh pagoda, Cao Mai hamlet, Quang Hung village, Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province with the country welcomed Lunar Monkey Year Tet.

 It was a small pagoda in northern countryside, but under the instruction of the Junior Venerable Thích Tâm Kính and the support from monks of Hoang Phap pogada, native monks and Buddhists started pagoda decoration to welcome Tet holiday from the beginning days of Lunar December Goat Year.

All the sceneries and models were solemnly arranged, showing cultural identity of Vietnam people. Among them, some models showed tradition of nation such as peach tree, spring atmosphere of the north, with apricot tree, atmosphere of the south. The image of the roofs of northern delta was close to people here. Near Avalokitesvara pedestal was the model of scholar writing calligraphy as Spring came.

Looking from three -entrance gate, there were two lines of lotus lamp-post, which were decorated parallel with each other, heading to the pagoda yard.

In the middle of the pagoda yard, the model of Maitreya pedestal was placed suitably with the pagoda view, making Tet atmosphere of countryside pagoda more unique. Although being very busy with decoration work for Tet, monks and villagers took advantage of spare time to perform releasing living creatures’ ceremony at the river on the side of the pagoda. 

Native Buddhists also wrapped square sticky rice cakes from glutinous rice, which had been just harvested, with the core of green beans to create a special Tet flavour to make offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. All preparatory work to welcome Monkey Year such as designing models of peach trees, apricot trees, the ancient scholar, Maitreya pedestal, the wrapping of Chung cake, all of which were almost done. All people hoped to bring happiness, novelty to Buddhists, guests doing sightseeing and praying Buddha on the occasion of this Monkey Year.

 Here are some photos taken as below: