Photo: www.footprintsvietnam.comKhmer pagoda to see swift restoration effort
27/08/2007
Viet Nam News (Hanoi)
VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai urged Soc Trang Province’s authorities to take action to restore the main temple of Doi (Bats) Pagoda during his visit to this site last Thursday.
The State will support the restoration cost, which is estimated at more than VND2bil (US$125,000).
The deputy minister said the famous Khmer pagoda, a national historical monument over four centuries old, needs to be restored to its former state and preserved thereafter.
Head of the provincial Ethnic Minorities Department, Lam Ren, said the restoration might begin in September, and the department would try their best to remain faithful to the former architectural style and size of the main temple during renovations.
Despite the damage, head monk at the pagoda, Most Venerable Kim Rene, said that the fire did not affect the bats in the pagoda or the number of visitors.
"Visitors and Buddhists all feel pity over the accident and want to contribute to the restoration of the main temple," he said.
The monk said he would rearrange the worship procedure, especially candle lighting in the pagoda, to avoid another fire in the future.
The blaze swept through the famed pagoda on August 15, destroying dozens of Buddha statues, 60 large candles, curtains, carved pillars, and all the doors and roofs of the main temple.
The accident was caused by a lit candle coming into contact with flammable furniture and decorations.
The State will support the restoration cost, which is estimated at more than VND2bil (US$125,000).
The deputy minister said the famous Khmer pagoda, a national historical monument over four centuries old, needs to be restored to its former state and preserved thereafter.
Head of the provincial Ethnic Minorities Department, Lam Ren, said the restoration might begin in September, and the department would try their best to remain faithful to the former architectural style and size of the main temple during renovations.
Despite the damage, head monk at the pagoda, Most Venerable Kim Rene, said that the fire did not affect the bats in the pagoda or the number of visitors.
"Visitors and Buddhists all feel pity over the accident and want to contribute to the restoration of the main temple," he said.
The monk said he would rearrange the worship procedure, especially candle lighting in the pagoda, to avoid another fire in the future.
The blaze swept through the famed pagoda on August 15, destroying dozens of Buddha statues, 60 large candles, curtains, carved pillars, and all the doors and roofs of the main temple.
The accident was caused by a lit candle coming into contact with flammable furniture and decorations.
