Unique Khleang pagoda - Sóc Trăng

The pagoda includes architectural works such as Sala temple (house for bonzes and followers), accommodation of master bonze, incinerator, Pôthi school using Khmer language,… In which, the sanctum is the nicest and most majestic, built in 1918 with 24m in length and 13m in width, located on a foundation higher two meters than the ground with colorful three–step staircase out–in tapered. There are two oval towers in front of and behind the pagoda back, used to store bones of nuns. The central chamber is covered by a solemn and respectful atmosphere including 16 big wood pillars with red lacquer trimmed with gold. Sketches and images of Buddha, life ways of dharma… were carved on these pillars. A lot of layouts which were decorated on the ceiling and surrounding areas, shows antique architecture of Khmer people. The statue of Buddha with the height of 6.7m was located at the middle of the central chamber, set up in 1916.

The pagoda roof was built in a three-step staircase method, each has three layers. The central layer is larger than two–sided layers and no ridge. On the roof, sculptural reliefs of birds, animals were delicately laid. This makes Khleang more solemn. Besides, the roof also has many antique images symbolizing the philosophy of Buddhism. The whole temple roofs is skillful sculptural architectural work, presenting the antique life philosophy on Buddhism and God of Khmer people in the Southern part of Vietnam. Moreover, many objects having the old date of Khmer community are still stored and displayed at the surrounding areas of the central chamber.

Since it’s construction up to now, Khleang pagoda  has been restored for two times in 1963 and 1994. The pagoda remains to store 70 sprayer-books named Tam Tạng, about 120 books of Pali language, some bibles written in buông leaf… Currently, it still keeps documents copied from Khmer old bibliography telling about the construction origin of the temple and other sites in Sóc Trăng.

In festival days, Khleang pagoda is always a destination of many visitors when they come to Sóc Trăng – a region converging three cultures: Khmer – Hoa – Việt. Khleang pagoda is a place for the faithful, cultural and spiritual activities of Khmer people in Sóc Trăng. It is also the place for holding solemn rituals in the traditional festivals such as Bon Châu 1 Chhnam Thmei festival, also called new year festival or “lễ chịu tuổi”, meaning the festival of Khmer people in Cửu Long river delta (held in annually April of calendar year, within 3 - 4 days).

Besides traditional harvest time festivals, Khleang pagoda  is also a place for holding parties in festival time with sound of drum beat, clarinet, Lâm Thol medoly, Dù Kê sing, Răm Vông, Rô Băm classical drama… lively colors. In addition to that games like firecracker, release wind light (thả đèn gió), spin the top of fire… are also very interested.