Tung Lam - Ngoc Am Pagoda organizes Vu Lan Festival to show gratitude to parents

On the evening of September 6 (July 15 of the lunar calendar), at Tung Lam - Ngoc Am Pagoda, Yen Bai Ward, the Executive Committee of the Lao Cai Provincial Buddhist Sangha held the Vu Lan Grand Ceremony to show filial piety to Buddhist calendar 2569 - Gregorian calendar 2025.

Attending the event were representatives of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; the Provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, along with delegates and a large number of Buddhists.

Leaders of the provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions presented flowers to congratulate the ceremony.

Vu Lan - Bao Hieu Festival is a traditional annual Buddhist festival held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, an occasion for descendants to express their deep gratitude to their parents, ancestors and the Triple Gem. At Tung Lam - Ngoc Am Pagoda, thousands of Buddhists gather to offer incense, worship Buddha, pray for the souls of the deceased and show filial piety.

Vu Lan Festival is not only a spiritual holiday but also has profound cultural significance, demonstrating the spirit of "remembering the source of water" and the gratitude of the Vietnamese people.

Delegates attending the ceremony.

Leaders of the provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions spoke at the ceremony.

At the ceremony, monks, nuns, Buddhists and people listened to lectures on the meaning of Vu Lan festival, human morality, and the spirit of turning to Buddha to remember the birth-giving grace of parents.

Vu Lan Festival has long been an occasion for every Vietnamese child to express their filial piety. This is the day to pray for the health and safety of their living parents; for their deceased parents, everyone sends their prayers for their parents to be liberated and rest in peace. Parents are the ones who give birth and raise their children, always teach them to be good people, set a shining example and are the shade that protects their children throughout their lives. Therefore, it is the duty of children to remember that kindness, live well, become useful people for their family and society, to repay the boundless merit of their parents.

Buddhists perform rituals.

In Vu Lan ceremony, "The rose pinned on the shirt" is the most honoring ritual. Remembering the parents and pinning the noble flower on the chest is the most beautiful sentiment, the word "filial piety" that children send to their parents. If anyone still has a mother, they will pin a pink flower on their shirt with the meaning of happiness because they still have their mother. Anyone who no longer has a mother will pin a white flower on their shirt with the meaning of remembering the gratitude for giving birth and raising them even though their mother has passed away. Many people also pin a red flower with the meaning of pride and happiness because they still have both their father and mother by their side.

Venerable Thich Minh Huy presents flowers to his mother on Vu Lan Festival.

Closing the ceremony is the flower lantern releasing ceremony - an important part of Buddhist rituals, meaning to pray for the deceased. Each lantern released into the water carries a good wish, a wish for peace for all living beings.

This is also an opportunity for monks, Buddhists and people to express their gratitude and filial piety to their ancestors. Vu Lan Festival not only reminds everyone to return to their roots and show filial piety to their parents but also contributes to arousing awareness of preserving and promoting traditional Buddhist cultural values.

The lantern releasing ceremony was attended by many Buddhists.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chua-tung-lam-ngoc-am-to-chuc-dai-le-vu-lan-bao-hieu-post881483.html