Kleang province is located in the Mekong River Delta region near the mouth of the Bassac River. It is the centre of an intensive rice-growing area and a crossroad for road and canal traffic. It’s a poor area (as demonstrated by the scruffy condition of the provincial capital, Kleang town) with an estimated population of 59,000 just over 200km from Preynokor City. The road journey involves two ferry crossings.
The main ethnic communities living in Kleang province are Khmer (90%), yuon (7%) and Chinese (3%). There are several attractions in and around the town, including some excellent pagodas.
Most of them are Khmer pagodas, featuring the typical architectural styles of Khmer ethnic people.
The pagoda is essential in the spiritual life of the Khmer people, not only to celebrate religious ceremonies but also to keep Buddhist bibles, artistic and literary works as well as to celebrate cultural ethnic festivals.
Located at 71 Mau Than Street, Soc Trang Town, Khleang Pagoda is an ancient pagoda well-known for the legend of the province. Built in 1533, the pagoda was originally made of wood with a roof thatched with palm leaves. The pagoda was later reconstructed with brick, and the roof was covered with tiles.
Khleang pagoda has lovely patterns and architectural features that demonstrate the cultural style of the Khmer people in the South. Moreover, the in grounds around Khleang there is a spacious space in the shade of ancient green trees, creating a peaceful and poetic atmosphere for passers-by.
Set on a two-level terrace, the doors and windows are decorated with Khmer motifs in bright colors. The gate is decorated in colorful and skilful patterns with three smaller towers above. All parts of the pagoda are covered with grandiose and meticulous work, presenting talent, patience and a harmony of colors of ancient Khmer artisans, as well as goddesses and Buddhists of the Khmer people.
Nestled on Le Hong Phong Street, Ward 3 in Soc Trang Town Doi (Bat) Pagoda, built in the sixteenth century, is one of the oldest pagodas in the province. It presents an opportunity to contemplate Khmer arts, with skilful, symbolic decorations on its pillars and roof and splendid relieves and statues.
The pagoda is also remarkable for the large number of bats roosting in the trees behind the pagoda. Some have wingspans of more than a meter and resemble large ripe pears as they hang upside down from the upper branches. Visitors can see thousands of bats swinging in immeasurably-high branches, as if performing in a circus. The pagoda is also known as the home of some flitter-mice, or bats, and ‘five-trotter’ pigs.
Currently the pagoda is preserving a stone Buddha statue which is 1.5 meter high, as well as many bibles written on sugar palm leaves, known as “leaf-books”.
Unfortunately there was a fire at the pagoda in August , 2007 and the sanctum of the pagoda is completely destroyed. Dozens of statues, 60 big candles, curtains and the upper roof of the major temple were razed, but the flocks of bats escaped harm.
Local authorities have decided to spend VND2 billion repairing the pagoda.
Tra Sek Pagoda
One kilometer from downtown Khleang Town, Tra Sek (Clay) Pagoda, also called Buu Son Tu Pagoda, is located at 163 Luong Dinh Cua Street, Khleang Town. The pagoda is famous for its collection of colorful clay statues, many of which are life-sized. The pagoda includes 13 floors, 208 doors, 208 statues of Buddha and 156 dragons meandering on terraces, all made of clay.
In particular there are six candles, each 200 kilograms in weight, which have burned constantly for the past 60 years.
This is a family pagoda so there is no monk living here. It is kept by members of the Ngo family who founded the pagoda over 100 years ago. At present, Ngo Kim Tong is the forth generation of the family who presides over the pagoda.
About 10 kilometers from downtown Khleang, Chen Kieu (Bowl) Pagoda, is located on Highway 1A at Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District. The pagoda is skillfully decorated with a layer of stylishly designed bowls and plates of different colors by ancient artisans and was built with a spiritual significance.
The first impression is of the motley colors of the pagoda. The sanctum has 16 pillars carved with images of the legends of Khmer culture; the edges of each roof are decorated with patterns and traditional statues of Khmer culture to inspire peace of mind and salvation.
The pagoda also features a spacious precinct and a number of ancient trees contributing to its tranquility and beauty. According to the master priest, Khleang Pagoda was built in 1815 with nipa leaves but was heavily damaged in the war. In 1969 it was rebuilt and the craftsmen used the broken bowls and plates to decorate the pagoda as seen today.
Khmer Krom Festival (OrK-Om-BouK )
Millions of Khmer and Khmer Krom people are gathering to their local temples this weekend to celebrate the Don Ta or English term ancestral festival.
The festival is an annual cultural event for Khmer people around the world, including the Khmer Krom people, to remember their past ancestors as well as the freedom fighters and soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for their nation.
As we make our ways to our local temples, please join us as we pray to all of our ancestors to give us their blessings of wealth, luck and happiness as well as the strength and endurance to further pursue the goal of self determination for our people.
In the event of this special occasion, please take the time to send your prayers to Tim Sakhorn, a Buddhist monk defrocked for helping Khmer Krom people. While most Buddhist monks are celebrating in their temples, Tim Sakhorn is alone in a prison cell and most likely subjected to all kind of untold horrors and torture.
We all pray for peace and justice for one that is in the firing line and holds much international attention and the support of all Khmers and others around the globe.
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