41 artists and thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns attend the Buddha procession and Buddha bathing ceremony on Buddha's birthday

The Buddha procession goes through many streets - Photo: THANH HIEP

To celebrate Buddha's birthday, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City organized a procession to invite the Buddha's statue from An Quang Pagoda to Vietnam National Pagoda on the evening of May 5.

This is the opening event for Buddha's Birthday Week, Buddhist calendar 2569.

The procession carrying the infant Buddha started from An Quang Pagoda, passing through Su Van Hanh, Ngo Gia Tu, Dien Bien Phu, Cao Thang, Ba Thang Hai streets, and then returned to the main altar at Viet Nam Quoc Tu.

Leading the procession were palanquins with incense burners, the national flag, and the Buddhist flag; followed by groups of streamers, banners, ceremonial banners, and Buddha palanquins; monks, and flower-carrying palanquins from the boards under the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Ho Chi Minh City and 21 districts, towns, and Thu Duc City.

The Buddha procession begins at An Quang pagoda - Photo: THANH HIEP

Buddhist flag-holding delegation - Photo: THANH HIEP

Many Buddhists and people participated in the parade - Photo: THANH HIEP

Thousands of people stood on both sides of the road watching the Buddha procession - Photo: THANH HIEP

Crowds of people on both sides of the road watched and cheered on the Buddha procession as it passed by.

The delegation included more than 40 artists and thousands of monks, nuns and Buddhists such as: artists Trinh Kim Chi, Le Tu, Ha Nhu, Binh Tinh; actors Quoc Truong, Van Trang, Hong Trang, Huynh Lap, Lam Vy Da, Hua Minh Dat, Thuan Nguyen, Le Loc, Le Khanh, Gia Huy, Tieu Minh Phung, Thai Chi Hung;

Singers Nhat Kim Anh, Anh Tu, Ly Ly, Dong Quan, Diep Lam Anh, Thu Thuy, Phuong My Chi; male king Tuan Ngoc; beauty queens Le Hoang Phuong, Tieu Vy; runners-up Thanh Ngan, Bui Khanh Linh, Kieu Loan, Bich Tuyen, Ngoc Hang, Cam Ly; musician Chau Dang Khoa...

Lam Vy Da shared that she and Hua Minh Dat were delighted to participate in the procession to invite the Buddha's birth statue in the sacred colors of Vesak 2025.

King Tuan Ngoc said he participated in the procession to invite the Buddha's birth statue to spread the spirit of compassion, wisdom, and peace to everyone.

At Vietnam Quoc Tu, Venerable Thich Le Trang - Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, performed the bathing ceremony. This is one of the main rituals of Buddha's birthday.

Many people choose to wear traditional costumes to participate in the parade - Photo: THANH HIEP

The sisters dressed up in traditional costumes - Photo: THANH HIEP

Artist Trinh Kim Chi expressed her joy and honor when participating in the parade - Photo: THANH HIEP

Actor Quoc Truong (middle) participates in the Buddha procession - Photo: THANH HIEP

Actor Hua Minh Dat (middle) in the parade - Photo: THANH HIEP

Lam Vy Da sincerely turns to Buddha - Photo: FBNV

Actor Huynh Lap - Photo: THANH HIEP

From left to right: Le Tu, Ha Nhu, Binh Tinh, Dong Quan - Photo: FBNV

The Buddha procession had the participation of many beautiful women - Photo: THANH HIEP

Parade entering Vietnam National Temple - Photo: THANH HIEP

Most Venerable Thich Le Trang - Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, bathing the Buddha - Photo: THANH HIEP