Thousands of people and Buddhists flocked to Phap Hoa Pagoda to release flower lanterns to celebrate Buddha's birthday.

On the evening of May 9, a large number of people and Buddhists flocked to Phap Hoa Pagoda (Ward 14, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) to attend the flower lantern festival on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, Buddhist calendar 2569 - Gregorian calendar 2025. Photo: Van Trung

From the evening, crowds of people moved on streets such as Le Van Sy, Tran Quoc Thao, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa... and poured into the pagoda to join in the joyful, bustling atmosphere of the ceremony.

On the occasion of Buddha's birthday this year, Phap Hoa Pagoda prepared about 6,000 flower lanterns and gave them away for free to people who came to participate in the flower lantern festival.

Receiving flower lanterns, people write good wishes for themselves and their families and then release them into the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, past the pagoda.

People and Buddhists pray respectfully before releasing the flower lantern into the water.

Volunteers move the lanterns from inside the temple to the canal bank and then let them float down the river.

Thousands of lanterns create sparkling, shimmering light in the night of Buddha's birthday celebration.

Many families brought their children to the festival. Photo: Van Trung

Many days ago, in the joyful atmosphere to welcome the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival taking place for the first time in Ho Chi Minh City, Phap Hoa Pagoda set up a space of sparkling lights and flowers in the meditation temple grounds. Photo: Ngo Tung

Large flower lanterns and lanterns appear brightly during Buddha's birthday at Phap Hoa Pagoda - the headquarters of the Cultural Committee, Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Also in the atmosphere of celebrating the birthday of Buddha Shakyamuni, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Phu Nhuan District, together with Quan Am Monastery, installed 7 large lotus flowers and also decorated the space with brilliant lanterns along the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal.

During this time, monasteries across Ho Chi Minh City also organize chanting sessions and Buddha bathing ceremonies so that people and Buddhists everywhere can practice traditional religious beliefs and pray for peace and happiness during the important Buddhist holiday season. Photo: Ngo Tung

Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/hang-nghin-nguoi-dan-phat-tu-do-ve-chua-phap-hoa-tha-hoa-dang-mung-le-phat-dan-1018656.html