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A 140-year-old Khmer pagoda is a must-see site in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. |
In Khmer tradition, local people and Buddhists come to the pagoda to help prepare for festivals and other special celebrations.
Mới Pagoda, built by the Khmer, is situated on Road 91, 2 km from the Tinh Bien International Border Market. It is home to Theravada monks and also a place of worship for Khmer people in the Xuan Hoa residential cluster.
Its architecture is a combination of the Khmer’s decorative art and the colourful designs of the Angkor culture. From its gates and roofs to interiors, there are numerous figures of birds, nymphs and Naga, the god of snakes.
The main hall has a high ceiling. An idol of the Buddha seated on a lotus is in the middle of the hall. The year of construction is recorded on a wall: 2421 in the Buddhist calendar.
Outside the main hall, under a canopy of palm trees is a long line of towers built by Buddhist followers. The towers have many different sizes depending on the donations made by each family. — VNS
