Announcing 87 national treasures of Buddhism, raising the flag 500m at the United Nations Vesak Festival 2025

(PLVN) - The 2025 United Nations (UN) Vesak Festival takes place with many outstanding cultural activities, including art programs, exhibitions, tea ceremonies, floating lanterns, etc.

On the afternoon of May 2, at the Hall of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, Le Minh Xuan Campus, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, the opening ceremony of the Press Center and press conference before the 2025 UN Vesak Festival took place.

Here, Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Vice President, General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) said that in order to spread information about the Great Festival to a large number of people at home and abroad, the Organizing Committee (OC) held the inauguration ceremony of the Press Center serving the Vesak Festival. This center was built within 2 days in the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 - "speed, speed and success".

“The equipment in the press center is provided and supported by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, etc. Therefore, through this center, the Organizing Committee hopes that reporters, newspapers, and editors will work most conveniently to provide the most truthful and beautiful information and images about the Great Ceremony to a wide range of readers at home and abroad,” said Venerable Thich Duc Thien.

Opening of the Press Center for Vesak 2025.

Regarding the cultural activities at the Vesak 2025, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Standing Member of the Executive Council, Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said that the festival has many cultural activities, including 7 rich and meaningful art programs. The main programs include the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony.

The art program includes the participation of famous artists from the North, Central, and South, and international art troupes from China, India, Thailand, Korea, Cambodia, Mongolia, etc.

Notably, at Vesak 2025, for the first time, 87 national treasures of Buddhism were announced, which were recognized by the Prime Minister . Vietnam has a total of 233 national treasures, of which Buddhism has 787 treasures. The exhibition took place on the morning of May 5, introducing important imprints of Vietnamese Buddhist culture through the ages and was an opportunity for monks, nuns, Buddhists and the public to admire. Also at the exhibition, the Organizing Committee introduced 4 projects: language, rituals, robes, architecture and heritage.

After the opening of the exhibition, there will be a flag-raising ceremony (taking place at 10am on 5/5) with a 500m flag. There will be a hot air balloon for everyone to sign and leave their mark when attending.

In addition, at the Vesak 2025 Festival, there is a tea ceremony program. According to Venerable Thich Tho Lac, this is a special program and perhaps the first time it has been organized in such a unique way. This program has a separate space for the monks and delegates to rest, enjoy tea and products from different regions for about 1.5 hours after lunch. The units serving the tea ceremony are said to be those that have served the countries.

On the evening of May 6, a lantern release program will take place with the participation of 12,000 people and 35,000 lanterns. The program includes administrative and meditation activities around Lang Le Park Lake (next to the Buddhist Academy) in Le Minh Xuan Commune, Binh Chanh District to release lanterns, praying for world peace , national security and independence for the country. This is also a special program at the Vesak festival.

The organizers emphasized that cultural activities within the framework of the Festival are very rich and diverse.

Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac emphasized that the cultural activities within the framework of this Great Festival are very rich and diverse, demonstrating the quintessence of Vietnamese Buddhist culture and international exchange. The Central Cultural Committee has made efforts to thoroughly implement these programs.

Earlier , on the morning of May 2, a military plane carrying the Buddha's relics - India's national treasure - landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City. The welcoming ceremony was attended by the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang; Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon - Chairman of the Executive Council; Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem; Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Executive Council; and Minister of Ethnic Affairs and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung.

After the handover ceremony, the relics were brought to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City (campus 2) - where the Vesak 2025 festival will take place. After that, the relics were invited to Thanh Tam Pagoda (Le Minh Xuan Commune, Binh Chanh District). The opening ceremony of the worship of the Buddha's relics, the national treasure of India, will take place on May 3 at Thanh Tam Pagoda, Binh Chanh District and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Vietnam National Temple (District 10).

Nha An

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/cong-bo-87-bao-vat-quoc-gia-ve-phat-giao-thuong-co-500m-tai-dai-le-vesak-lien-hop-quoc-2025-post547275.html