Buddhist
dignitaries, monks, nuns, followers and visitors joined in a procession
and a ceremony to offer incense to King Tran Nhan Tong, who reigned
over the country from 1279 to 1293 and then left the throne to devote
his life to Buddhism.
According
to the provincial Party Committee’s Secretary Nguyen Van Long the
locality made careful preparations to serve pilgrims to the festival.
Yen
Tu mountain is located about 50km from Ha Long City. The route of the
pilgrimage, which winds from the foot of the mountain to its highest
peak, is almost 30km. Dong Pagoda, which sits atop the mountain’s
highest peak, is more than a kilometre above sea level.
The
area’s beautiful natural landscape and awe-inspiring scenery, along
with surrounding ancient pagodas and hermitages, are said to have been
the reason that King Tran Nhan Tong passed the throne to his son so that
he could devote his life living as a Buddhist monk at Yen Tu mountain.
Whilst there, he founded the Truc Lam meditation sect, which has led to
Yen Tu being recognised as the country’s leading centre for Buddhism. |
