Opening of Buddha relic worship in Ho Chi Minh City from May 3

The welcoming ceremony was attended by the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang; Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon - Chairman of the Executive Council; Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem; Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Executive Council; and Minister of Ethnic Affairs and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung.

After the handover ceremony, the relics were brought to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City (campus 2) - where the Vesak 2025 festival will take place. After that, the relics were invited to Thanh Tam Pagoda (Le Minh Xuan Commune, Binh Chanh District). The opening ceremony of the worship of the Buddha's relics, the national treasure of India, will take place on May 3 at Thanh Tam Pagoda, Binh Chanh District and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Vietnam National Temple (District 10).

The United Nations (UN) Vesak 2025 will take place from May 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh City . The main venue for the opening ceremony (May 4), closing ceremony (May 8) and seminar sessions will be the Vietnam Buddhist Academy Hall (Le Minh Xuan Campus, Binh Chanh District). Cultural festival events and Buddha relic enshrinement will take place at Thanh Tam Pagoda and Lang Le Park (next to the Academy).

The international art exchange night, expected to gather art troupes from many countries, will be held at Sala Theater (Thu Duc City). In addition, the Organizing Committee will also arrange a tour of the Sun World Ba Den Mountain Cultural Tourism Area (Tay Ninh) for delegates after the closing ceremony.

The Vesak Festival is expected to welcome about 1,200 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, along with about 1,500 domestic delegates including leaders of the VBS, representatives of the Party, State, ministries, central and local departments and branches, and a large number of outstanding Buddhists.

The force serving the Great Ceremony is up to more than ten thousand people, including 550 volunteers from universities in Ho Chi Minh City, 1,000 monks and nuns from the Academy, 1,200 people serving in logistics, 4,000 young students attending the lantern festival, and 6,000 Buddhists from pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a particularly meaningful international cultural diplomacy event of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and the whole country, taking place in the context of the country celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), and the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

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.

With the main theme “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development”, the Festival will include many rich activities. Highlights include an international conference with 578 presentations (including English and Vietnamese), focusing on topics of peace, sustainable development, and the application of Buddhist teachings in modern society; special Buddhist cultural and artistic events, cultural exhibitions, flower lantern ceremonies, etc.

Nha An

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/khai-mo-chiem-bai-xa-loi-phat-tai-tp-hcm-tu-ngay-35-post547263.html