People line up to worship Buddha's relics at Vesak Festival

According to the reporter's records, from early morning, in the stupa of Thanh Tam Pagoda - where Buddha's relics - India's national treasure - are enshrined, thousands of people came to worship.

Not only monks, nuns and Buddhists in Ho Chi Minh City but also many people from neighboring provinces have gathered here to attend this special spiritual event. Among them, there are people who traveled 1,700 km from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City just with the wish to see the relics with their own eyes.

Sharing with reporters, Mr. Hoang Hung (50 years old, Khanh Hoa ) said that when he heard that the Buddha's relics were invited to Thanh Tam Pagoda, he wanted to visit them one day, so he arrived early. For him, being able to see the relics with his own eyes was a very lucky thing, it made him feel lighter.

People wait to worship Buddha's relics at Thanh Tam Pagoda. Photo: Organizing Committee

Every hour or so, hundreds of people are guided by the organizers and orderly enter the relic area to perform the worship ritual.

A day earlier (morning of May 2), the military plane carrying the relics landed at Tan Son Nhat airport. After a solemn transfer ceremony, the relics were taken to Thanh Tam pagoda, where the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak will take place.

The organizers said that the opening hours for worship at Thanh Tam Pagoda will last from May 3 to noon on May 8, from 6am to 10pm every day. The morning of May 6 will be reserved for delegates attending the 2025 UN Vesak Day.

People lined up to go inside to worship Buddha's relics. Photo: Organizing Committee

After being enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda, the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni will be welcomed to be enshrined at Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh Province) from May 8-13, then continue their journey to Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi) from May 13-16 and Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam) from May 17-21, before being brought back to India.

According to Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President - General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vice President - General Secretary of the National Organizing Committee of the 2025 UN Vesak Festival, Vietnam's hosting of the UN Vesak Festival is an opportunity to introduce to international friends the image of the country and people of Vietnam who love peace, friendliness, solidarity and harmony, a dynamic, creative, prosperous and thriving Ho Chi Minh City after 50 years of liberation. Vietnam integrates, develops and strives with the world in the new era.

According to the organizers, the opening hours for worship at Thanh Tam Pagoda last from May 3 to noon on May 8, from 6am to 10pm every day. Photo: Organizing Committee

The 2025 Vesak Festival is an event co-organized by the International Organizing Committee for the UN Day of Vesak (ICDV) and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. This is the fourth time Vietnam has had the honor of hosting this important international Buddhist event, following successful events in Hanoi (2008), Ninh Binh (2014) and Ha Nam (2019).

The 2025 Vesak Festival is expected to attract representatives from 85 countries and territories, taking place from May 6-8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nha An

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dong-nguoi-xep-hang-cho-duoc-chiem-bai-xa-loi-duc-phat-tai-dai-le-vesak-post547313.html