United Nations Vesak Festival: An opportunity to introduce Vietnam and its people

Attending the press conference were Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Mr. Dang Huy Cuong, representative of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs ( Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions ); Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Ho Chi Minh City...

This is the fourth time Vietnam has hosted the United Nations Vesak celebration, but the first time it has been held in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day. This year's Vesak celebration takes place from May 6-8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City with the theme "Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development".

CAREFUL PREPARATION

The ceremony is expected to be attended by about 1,250 international delegates from 85 countries and territories; delegates representing the United Nations, international organizations, distinguished guests such as the President of Sri Lanka, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation)... and 1,500 domestic delegates including: leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front; Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; central and local departments, ministries, branches.

The solemn ceremony to welcome the Buddha's relics was held yesterday morning.

Photo: Organizing Committee

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien acknowledged that the 2025 United Nations Vesak celebration will have a large number of international and domestic guests attending, which demonstrates Vietnam's international position and prestige. At the same time, it shows the influence of the 2025 Vesak celebration at a time when the whole country celebrates the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

The 2025 Vesak Festival is an opportunity to introduce the image of the country and people of Vietnam who love peace, friendliness, solidarity and harmony. For international friends to witness Ho Chi Minh City as dynamic, creative, prosperous and thriving after 50 years of national reunification.

The festival is expected to contribute to promoting tourism development and economic investment in Vietnam and is also an opportunity for Vietnam to become a destination for international tourists from the beautiful image created through the international cultural event of the United Nations.

Within the framework of this year's Vesak festival, there is an important event, expected to attract a large number of people and Buddhists, which is the invitation of the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni from India to Thanh Tam Pagoda (Phat Co Don, Binh Chanh District).

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the city and related units have been preparing carefully for a long time, from logistics, infrastructure to organizational coordination. The main organizing area in Le Minh Xuan commune, Binh Chanh district is an important space, with synchronous investment in infrastructure and equipment to serve the 2025 United Nations Vesak festival.

Ho Chi Minh City also plans to coordinate traffic and organize large parking lots around the area where the ceremony will take place to ensure efficient transfer for nearly 3,000 international and domestic delegates. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City is planning to organize a reception and courtesy call for international delegations on May 5 at Thong Nhat Hall. This is an important diplomatic event, assigned by the Central Committee to the city to host.

The representative of Ho Chi Minh City emphasized: "This is the first time the Vesak festival is held in Ho Chi Minh City, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, so we are determined to organize it successfully, safely and show the image of a peaceful and friendly Vietnam in the eyes of international friends."

The United Nations Vesak Day is one of the important international cultural events recognized by the United Nations, to honor human values and global peace. The main activities of this year's festival include: a presentation of the theme of the festival; an international flower lantern night to pray for national peace and world peace; an international scientific conference and a flower lantern ceremony on Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh).

Buddha's relics are seen for the first time in Vietnam

On the morning of May 2, the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni - the national treasure of India and also the most sacred treasure of world Buddhism, arrived in Vietnam for the first time. Escorting the Buddha relics from India to Vietnam were Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minorities Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh - Mr. Kandula Durgesh, along with eminent monks and high-ranking officials of India.

People can worship Buddha's relics at Thanh Tam Pagoda from this afternoon, May 3.

At the special reception area at the foot of the plane at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, in a solemn and emotional atmosphere, the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, together with Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Venerables and representatives of the Vietnamese and Indian Governments welcomed the relics amidst reverberating chants of Buddha's name. Accompanying were Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Dao Ngoc Dung, Buddhists and people of the city.

After that, the relics were transferred to a ceremonial car and taken to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City - where a solemn enthronement ceremony will be held, opening the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival. Along the way, many Buddhists stood on both sides of the road, joyfully waving Buddhist flags. After that, the Buddha relics were solemnly carried to Thanh Tam Pagoda.

The moment the Buddha's relics arrived in Vietnam was a sacred moment engraved in the history of Buddhism in our country - not only a boundless joy for monks, nuns and Buddhists, but also a noble symbol of Vietnam - India friendship and the mission of serving peace of global Buddhism.

According to the organizers, people and Buddhists can worship Buddha's relics from May 3 to noon May 8 (from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), except for the morning of May 6, which is reserved for delegates attending Vesak. People coming to worship Buddha's relics do not need to register in advance, when arriving, please gather at the waiting room.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha notes that the organizing committee does not collect or accept any fees from anyone who comes to worship; does not accept wreaths or offerings, and does not perform offering rituals at the place of worship.

All visitors to the Buddha relics must follow the instructions of the organizers, line up in order, move in line, and not run or take shortcuts through the moving crowd. People must remain absolutely silent and not take photos or videos inside the place where the Buddha relics are enshrined or in the areas where the Buddha relics are worshiped.

Children under 2 years old, people with poor health, or inappropriate clothing will not be admitted to the place where Buddha's relics are enshrined.

Within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha will enshrine the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni in Vietnam for 20 days, specifically: at Thanh Tam Pagoda, Vietnam Buddhist Academy, Lang Le Park (Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) from May 2 to 8; at Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh) from May 8 to 13; at Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi) from May 13 to 16; at Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam) from May 17 to 21, after which the relics will be brought back to India.

Postponing the worship of the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc

On the evening of May 2, information from the organizing committee said that the invitation, enshrinement and worship of the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc (originally planned to take place this morning, May 3) had been postponed. "The conditions have not yet been met, so the invitation and worship of the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at the Vietnam National Temple according to the plan for the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will not take place on the morning of May 3," the announcement said. The organizing committee respectfully hopes that monks, nuns, Buddhists and compatriots will share, and at the same time, the time to invite, enshrine and worship the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at the Vietnam National Temple will be announced when there is new information.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dai-le-vesak-lien-hiep-quoc-co-hoi-gioi-thieu-dat-nuoc-con-nguoi-viet-nam-185250502224311772.htm