Sharing with TG&VN Newspaper, Venerable Chau Hoai Thai, member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, abbot of the pagoda, said that Tong Kim Quang Pagoda is not just a simple pagoda, but also a place that contributes to nurturing the national cultural life, connecting the Khmer community far from home; helping Khmer people who have lost their roots have the opportunity to find their roots, preserving the traditional beauty of their people.

View of Chol Chnam Thmay festival at Tong Kim Quang pagoda. (Photo: Dang Huy)

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According to Venerable Chau Hoai Thai, Chol Chnam Thmay - the traditional New Year of the Khmer people, has long become a sacred cultural feature, an important occasion for each Khmer person to turn to their roots, show gratitude to their ancestors and nurture a pure soul in the midst of modern life.

During Tet, people participate in rituals such as chanting, offering incense, bathing Buddha, building sand mountains, etc., which contain a profound philosophy of life: being grateful for the past, living well in the present and sowing good seeds for the future.

“Tet for Khmer people is not only about cultural activities, but also an opportunity to nurture the soul, a soul that knows gratitude, knows how to love, knows how to share and knows how to live kindly.

The purity of that soul is the light that guides each person in modern life, helping to maintain identity amidst countless changes," said the Venerable.

The ritual of bathing Buddha, chanting blessings, praying for the dead, praying for peace, and paying respect to ancestors of Khmer people when coming to Tong Kim Quang pagoda on the occasion of Chel Chnam Thmay Tet.. (Photo: Dang Huy)

It is known that Tong Kim Quang Pagoda, the only Khmer pagoda in Binh Duong, since its establishment in 2019, has played the role of a religious institution, a "common home" - a place where people return when their souls need shelter, when their hearts need peace.

Venerable Chau Hoai Thai expressed: "When leaving their homeland, every Khmer person always carries with them a deep nostalgia for their cultural roots, especially the familiar image of the pagoda - a place closely associated with religious and spiritual life for generations."

Khmer people gather to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay. (Photo: Dang Huy)

In a dynamic industrial land like Binh Duong, despite being busy making a living, Khmer people still do not forget traditional values.

When conditions permit, especially the presence of a Khmer temple with monks practicing their religion, the Khmer community will lead their descendants there to rediscover the way of life of their ancestors, so that the values ​​of their roots can be continued strongly.