Warm and solemn Buddha's Birthday celebration in Ho Chi Minh City.

As the fourth lunar month arrives, it brings with it reverence towards the Great Buddha's Birthday Celebration (Buddhist calendar 2570 - Gregorian calendar 2026) at temples and monasteries in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year's grand celebration will be held from May 24th to 31st (corresponding to the 8th to 15th day of the 4th lunar month, the year of the Fire Horse). The event aims to commemorate the Buddha's birthday and to inspire compassion, wisdom, harmony, and service in society.

A procession carrying the statue of the newborn Buddha along a 4km route from Ấn Quang Pagoda to Việt Nam Quốc Tự Pagoda to celebrate Buddha's birthday on the evening of May 24th. Photo: NGUYỄN THẠNH

Venerable Thich Le Trang, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association in Ho Chi Minh City, presided over the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at Vietnam National Pagoda. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

A large number of people, including many artists, participated in the procession of the statue of the newborn Buddha to celebrate Buddha's birthday. Photo: NGUYEN THANH

The lantern-releasing ceremony at Phap Hoa Pagoda (Nhieu Loc Ward) is one of the highlights in the series of events celebrating Buddha's Birthday in Ho Chi Minh City.

Many people came to watch and participate in the ritual of releasing floating lanterns to pray for peace and good health.

People release floating lanterns to pray for peace and happiness; all the lanterns will be collected after release to protect the environment.

This year, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Ho Chi Minh City organized three main Buddha's Birthday celebrations at Vietnam National Pagoda, Vung Tau Ward, and Binh Duong Ward, with rich activities such as the Buddha procession, flower float parade, lectures, vegetarian food festival, cultural performances, etc., with the participation of a large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists, and people.

The ritual of bathing the Buddha statue at Lien Tri Pagoda (Vung Tau ward)

The ritual of bathing the Buddha statue at Duoc Su Pagoda (Phuoc Thang Ward)

Thousands of people paraded on decorated floats to celebrate Buddha's birthday in Vung Tau ward.

Venerable monks of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Ho Chi Minh City escorted the Buddha's birth statue from Hoi Khanh ancestral temple to the Buddha's birthday altar at Hoi An pagoda (Binh Duong ward).

A procession of decorated floats celebrating the Grand Ceremony will run from Hoi Khanh Ancestral Temple (Thu Dau Mot ward) to Hoi An Pagoda (Binh Duong ward).

Venerable monks, along with representatives from various departments and agencies of Ho Chi Minh City, and leaders from several wards, performed the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue.

The organizing committee presented gifts to families in difficult circumstances on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday, Buddhist calendar 2570.

According to the Organizing Committee of the Buddha's Birthday Celebration 2570 in Ho Chi Minh City, the celebration will begin at 5:30 AM on May 31st, which is the 15th day of the fourth lunar month of the Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ).

The grand ceremony was attended by the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Venerable Deputy Supreme Patriarchs, the Council of Elders, the Chairman of the Executive Council, the Executive Council, the Executive Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha, along with leaders from central and Ho Chi Minh City agencies, representatives of other religions, diplomatic delegations in the city, and monks, nuns, and Buddhists from all walks of life...

MANH THANG - THU HOAI - NGUYEN NAM - TAM TRANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/am-ap-trang-nghiem-dai-le-phat-dan-tai-tphcm-post855141.html