TayNinh (VNA) - The CaoDai Tay Ninh Church in the southern province of Tay Ninh held the grand ritualdedicated to the Duc Chi Ton (Supreme Being) or Great Father who they believeto be the ancestor of the world, on February 12.
The event, held annually on the eighth day of thefirst lunar month, is one of the two most important rituals of the sect in ayear to pay respect for the Great Father and pray for good weather, bumper cropsand peace.
This year’s event attracted the participation of dozenof thousands of locals, and Cao Dai followers in and outside the country.
An exhibition of 31 models featuring nationalconstruction through periods as well as ancient heroes and legends was kickedoff the same day. Those include su tich trau cau (the legend of betel andareca), Co Loa citadel and Lac Long Quan and Au Co. The models are on displayuntil the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, or February 19.
The same day’s evening will be a dance of Long Ma(a legendary creature which is half horse and half dragon) and Tu Linh (thefour holy beasts) and a performance of Sac Toc music, followed by a worshippingceremony for the Great Father.
Founded in 1926 in Tay Ninh province, the Cao Dai religion worships the DivineEye, known as the eye of heaven and a symbol of its supreme being. Cao Dai’sdoctrine honours the Divine and the miraculous quality of supreme spirits, andconsiders them as the means for human beings to unify with the God.
Cao Dai is one of the major religions in Vietnam, with 10,000 dignitaries and2.5 million followers in Vietnam and 30,000 abroad. The religion has 1,300places of worship in 37 cities and provinces nationwide.-VNA