(GLO)- According to the Circular of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Gia Lai province, the 2567th Buddha's Birthday celebration at the provincial level will be held at the Buu Thang Pagoda (Pleiku City). Localities in the province will hold ceremonies at the district-level Executive Committee and at pagodas and monasteries during the Buddha's Birthday week (from the 8th to the 15th of the fourth lunar month).
Venerable Thich Giac Hien, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee and Head of the Cultural Committee of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said: “The Buddha’s Birthday is one of the most important Buddhist festivals, held in the fourth lunar month every year, to commemorate the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the annual Buddha’s Birthday as “an international cultural and religious festival of the United Nations.”
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Head of the Provincial Religious Committee Ho Hai Tan (left cover) presents a gift to congratulate the Buddha's Birthday at the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ia Grai district. Photo: TN |
According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Dinh Ngoc Hai: The Standing Committee of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee has guided districts, towns and cities to deploy a number of tasks on the occasion of the Great Buddha's Birthday and the Buddhist Summer Retreat this year. The Standing Committee of the District Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee proactively coordinates with functional agencies and local authorities to guide and support the Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in localities to organize the Great Buddha's Birthday in accordance with the provisions of law and the instructions of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Especially on this occasion, the provincial leaders, the Provincial Party Committee for Mass Mobilization, the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, the Provincial Religious Committee and related sectors visited and congratulated the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province and typical clergy and dignitaries... Districts, towns and cities also organized delegations to congratulate the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the district level, pagodas and monasteries, dignitaries and monks.
Towards the Buddha's Birthday this year, the provincial Buddhist Sangha at all levels also hung Buddhist flags and national flags, banners welcoming the Buddha's Birthday at pagodas and monasteries, along with decorations and cultural and artistic activities to celebrate the Buddha's Birthday. Up to now, 3 pagodas and monasteries have celebrated the Buddha's Birthday, including: Van Phat Pagoda, Ngoc Phuc Monastery (Pleiku City) and Ngoc Lai Monastery (Ia Grai District).
Venerable Thich Quang Huong - Head of the Provincial Buddhist Guidance Committee - said: "With the consent of the local government, the Provincial Buddhist Guidance Committee has just organized a parade with more than 40 flower bicycles, decorated with Buddhist flags, national flags and Buddha's birthday images, starting from Buu Nghiem Pagoda through several main streets and roads along Hoi Phu stream (Pleiku City)".
Talking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tri (Nguyen Ba Ngoc Street, Tra Ba Ward, Pleiku City) confided: “As a Buddhist, every time the Buddha's birthday comes, I feel an indescribable feeling of elation. Despite my busy work, I always take the time to help with preparations in the pagoda to celebrate Buddha's birthday.”
As for Ms. Dao Thi Thuy (Ham Rong village, Ia Bang commune, Dak Doa district), she said: “My family has 3 children, stable jobs and is married. We often go to the temple to pray for a peaceful life and try to do good deeds to create blessings for the future.” And, as young Xa Thi Thu Ha (group 4, Chi Lang ward, Pleiku city) said: “Since I was little, I often followed my parents to the temple. In recent years, I have regularly participated in summer retreats organized by pagodas. Through that, I have gained more knowledge, learned many life skills and ways to train myself, to become a useful person for my family and society in the future.”
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Young Buddhists of the province participate in a flower bicycle parade to celebrate Buddha's birthday on main roads in Pleiku City. Photo: Thanh Nhat |
On the occasion of the 2567th Buddha's Birthday, on May 30, a working delegation led by Comrade Pham Thi To Hai - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission, visited and congratulated Most Venerable Thich Tri Thanh - Member of the Board of Evidence of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province; Most Venerable Thich Giac Tam - Member of the Board of Evidence of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province, Head of the Board of Evidence of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Chu Pah district.
At the places visited, the Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission congratulated the dignitaries on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, Buddhist calendar 2567. In addition, the Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission encouraged the dignitaries to continue to promote their role in guiding monks, nuns and Buddhists to well implement the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State, and to practice religion in accordance with the law and the Charter of the Church. At the same time, they should actively participate in charity activities, social security, building cultural life, patriotic emulation movements, contributing to the development of the local socio -economy.
Speaking to reporters, Most Venerable Thich Tu Van - Member of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - affirmed: "Monks, nuns and Buddhists in the whole province are very excited because religious activities in general, as well as the Buddha's Birthday in Buddhist calendar 2567, have received the attention and support of local leaders at all levels. According to the direction of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, this year's Buddha's Birthday takes place close to the 60th anniversary of the day Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc self-immolated in the struggle for national independence and unification of the country (1963-2023)".
According to Venerable Thich Tu Van, the church hopes that the clergy and all monks and nuns will concentrate on observing the precepts, implementing the motto "Discipline - Responsibility - Solidarity - Development" to solemnize the church. The clergy and all monks and nuns, Buddhists will fulfill their duties as citizens towards the Fatherland, practice religion in accordance with the direction set by the church, contributing to building a strong homeland and church.
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