Highlights of the Buddhist Music and Art Program at the 2025 Vesak Festival

Venerable Thich Tho Lac delivered the opening speech. Photo: Nghiem Y

This is an activity within the series of key events of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the program were: Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Council of Patriarchs, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the United Nations Vesak 2025; Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit, Chairman of the International Organizing Committee of the United Nations Vesak; world Buddhist organizations; Buddhist sects and traditions from 85 countries and territories and nearly 3,000 monks, nuns, Buddhists and people from all over the country.

An art performance by host Vietnam. Photo: Nghiem Y

In his opening speech, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council, Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that the international Buddhist music and art exchange program was held in the solemn and sacred atmosphere of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival. This once again affirms that Vietnam is becoming a spiritual meeting place for hearts sharing the same ideals of love and service.

Thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists and people came to watch the program. Photo: Nghiem Y

This is also the honor of the country - a resilient and peaceful Vietnam - which has long embraced Buddhism not only as a religion, but also as a way of life imbued with the spirit of compassion, wisdom and serenity. Over thousands of years of development, Vietnamese Buddhism has formed a unique philosophical foundation, where sects such as Theravada, Zen, Pure Land and Mahayana coexist harmoniously, spreading profound humanistic values, becoming a core part of the national culture.

Also according to Venerable Thich Tho Lac, in this program, musical works such as: "The Quintessence of Prajna Paramita", "The World-Honored One's Song", "Vesak Ca", "Live Joyfully - Thank You", or "Buddhism Shines in Five Continents" ... brought the audience into the Buddhist space through elaborately staged works of art, combining symphonic, folk and contemporary music, along with modern stage effects, lighting and stage art.

A performance by the Chinese cultural art troupe. Photo: Nghiem Y

In addition, the program also has the participation of many Buddhist art troupes from India, China, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand... bringing a rich experience of Buddhist culture from countries around the world.

“The Vesak 2025 Music and Art Exchange is not only an artistic highlight during the Great Festival season, but also an opportunity for international friends to better perceive a peaceful, profound and creative Vietnam - where religion and life blend together, where each melody carries a message of good light, of awareness and love,” Venerable Thich Tho Lac shared.

A performance by the Indian cultural art troupe. Photo: Nghiem Y

The 2025 Vesak Celebration, with the theme “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development”, was held for the first time in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6 to 8, with the participation of more than 2,700 delegates (about 1,250 delegates from 85 countries and territories, and about 1,500 domestic delegates).

Below are some special photos of the show: