Munir Ansay pagoda in Can Tho – Explore Khmer culture

Munir Ansay pagoda in Can Tho – Explore Khmer culture

Can Tho is not only famous for its floating market and orchards, but also for its ancient and sacred pagodas. If anyone has the opportunity to travel to Can Tho, they will surely be introduced to visit Munir Ansay pagoda. This is a large Khmer temple with unique and long-standing architecture in Can Tho. Therefore, this place has long become an indispensable destination when coming to the Western land, helping tourists to understand more about the culture of the Khmer people.

Munir Ansay Pagoda is located at 36 Hoa Binh Boulevard, Ninh Kieu District – a bustling and beautiful street in Can Tho city. Perhaps not many people know that since its establishment in 1948, the pagoda was initially built with bamboo and leaves. After many renovations, a new pagoda was built with the same appearance as today.

At Munir Ansay pagoda, visitors will admire a pagoda with a distinctive “Angkor” architectural style of Cambodia, built with various components. The main components include the main hall, monk houses, kitchen, guest reception hall, tower for storing cremated remains, Xa Loi tower, and intricately carved main gate, following the religious beliefs of the Khmer people.

From the outside, on the left side is the row of houses for the monks, on the right side is the assembly hall for receiving guests, having meals, and in the middle of the temple is the two-story main hall, in front of which is the tower for the Buddha relics.

When just setting foot at the temple gate, tourists feel the temple stands out in a brilliant yellow color, symbolizing luck and prosperity. The temple gate is built in the style of a triple tower, with three towers standing parallel on the gate, towering in the air, helping tourists feel the solemnity in the place of worship. These three towers are also painted in a brilliant yellow color. This is the traditional color often decorated in Khmer temples in the Mekong Delta.

Although located in the city center, the temple courtyard is quite spacious, with a wide and peaceful space. Looking from the gate, visitors will encounter a magnificent golden tower standing proudly in the courtyard like a screen protecting the main hall.

Each floor in the tower is a small Buddha statue that represents the religious devotion of the gentle and hospitable Khmer people. Surrounding the tower are intricate bas-reliefs, the statue of the goddess Keynor, the divine bird Kurd, and the four-faced Buddha statue…

Behind the tower is a staircase leading to the main hall. Like other Khmer Buddhist temples, the main hall always faces east because in Buddhism, the east is the direction of the holy deities.

This area is built high, more than 1 meter above the ground, so it is very spacious and clean. The main hall is decorated with many embossed reliefs, round statues, carvings, depicting the images of Reahu (Tiger deity), Fairy, divine bird Kayno, Yeak… making the outside of the main hall look magnificent when looking at it.

Looking at this decorative figure, one can easily recognize the characteristics of folk beliefs and Balamon – which are the beliefs and religions that existed before Buddhism in the spiritual life of the Khmer people.

The temple only worships one Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha. Therefore, the main temple is quite simply arranged, and the altar is divided into many levels. The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is beautifully cast, carved, and engraved in various standing, lying, and sitting postures. This represents the diversity and richness of the moral significance and beauty of Shakyamuni Buddha. In the main temple, there is also a place to preserve precious treasures of the temple and offerings from the people.

The monks in the temple follow the Southern Zen sect (which only eats breakfast and lunch). The temple also provides free accommodation for Khmer ethnic students who come from provinces in the Mekong Delta region and have difficult circumstances.

Every year, at Munir Ansay temple, there are organized major festivals such as Cholchonam Thomay – New Year (on the 13th, 14th, 15th day of the 3rd lunar month), Ok-om-Book – Water Festival (in the 10th lunar month), Donta – Ancestor Worship Festival (in the 8th lunar month)… The festivals are celebrated joyfully and solemnly, with many traditional games that reflect the local culture, enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the Khmer people in particular and the people of Can Tho city in general.