Thay Pagoda

The event is held in a pagoda believed to have been constructed from the ashes of a Vietnamese folk hero and is renowned for its traditional water puppetry performances. According to legend, Tu Dao Hanh was a Buddhist monk during the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225 A.D). Leading a holy life and passing away in this pagoda, he contributed significantly to the propagation of religion, the cure of illness, and the development of water puppetry. According to the legend, the Buddhist monk’s enigmatic sainthood stems from the fact that towards the end of his life he remained in meditation for several months without food or water and died in that position. Subsequently, the populace placed his withered corpse in the building of the Genius for adoration.

Buddhist followers and pilgrims from all over the world arrive to the pagoda days before the festival, adding to the tumultuous mood of the celebration. The Pagoda is cleansed with fragrant incense and lit candles, creating an enchanting scene. During the festival, there are many cultural games and art performances, such as Tu Dao Hanh’s statue bathing, incense stick presentation, tablet escorting procession, Cheo (popular opera) performance, chess games, water puppet plays, recital of Tu Dao Hanh’s accomplishments, and so on.

In particular, you will get the opportunity to watch a water puppetry performance depicting the legends of Thach Sanh and Tam Cam, as well as cultural activities and aspects of rural life such as farming, duck care, and wrestling. The Thay Pagoda event is a collaboration between four communities (Thuy Khue, Da Phuc, Khanh Tan and Sai Khe). The celebration is held mostly in Thay Pagoda, which consists of three structures: the antechamber, the Buddha’s Building, and the Building of the Genius. The statue bathing ceremony occurs before to the start of the celebration. People and Buddhist monks participate in the ritual. Red fabric pieces are used to clean the statues.

Those who stand around raise their hands in front of their chests and whisper Buddhist sutras in a somber manner. When the ceremony concludes, the Buddha’s holy water will be dispersed throughout the pagoda to wish for abundant harvests and a prosperous life. The cloths are also torn into tiny pieces for the attendants, as it is believed that they have the ability to fend against evil. The procession of the tablets and the water puppet play are the two most notable activities and distinguishing characteristics of the festival. The procession of the worshipping tablet of Tu Dao Hanh occurs on the seventh day of the third lunar month. The local populace says that Tu Dao Hanh had magical abilities and became a genius before embracing Buddhism. Therefore, at the beginning of the procession, his tablets must be covered in a yellow fabric (the color of the robes worn by priests with supernatural powers), and on the return journey, the same tablets must be wrapped in the brown robes of a Buddhist monk.

Throughout the parade, Buddhist nuns describe Tu Dao Hanh’s achievements, first in acquiring supernatural magic and subsequently in leading a pious Buddhist life. Notable is that the tablet and white horse of Da Phuc must precede those of Thuy Khue in the procession. Typically, the procession arrives at the pagoda at dusk. This timing is regarded auspicious because it coincides with the transition from day to night, when darkness and night meet.

Among the unique sports of the Thay Pagoda Festival, water puppetry stands out. The second notable feature is the game, a traditional cultural activity associated with wet paddy agriculture in the Red River Delta. It takes place in front of the pagoda on a pond known as Long Tri. Supposedly, Tu Dao Hanh is the originator of this creative performance. This item consists of two fundamental elements: puppets and water. The puppets are the result of traditional wood carvings and lacquer painting. The location of the puppet show is a lake or a portion of a river.

With its flowing nature and reflections, water can effectively reflect the countless changes in the color of the sky, the mountains, the trees, and the foliage and lend the performance a mythological air. Typically, the puppeteers must remain submerged and command the puppet’s movement with attached sticks and strings. The Thay Pagoda festival attracts a large number of tourists due to the legend surrounding Monk Tu Dao Hanh and his exploits, the stunning setting, and the water puppet performances. They astonish and delight the audience, who also take pride in the inventiveness and dexterity of the artists that make this art.