Le Tu and Ha Nhu sing the opera The Life of Buddha at the 2025 Vesak Festival

Le Tu and Ha Nhu sing the opera The Life of Buddha at the 2025 Vesak Festival - Photo 1.

King Tinh Phan (Le Tu), Prince Siddhartha - Buddha (Dao Vu Thanh) and stepmother (Ha Nhu) in the play The Life and Career of Buddha Shakyamuni at the 2025 Vesak Festival - Photo: TTD

The art program The Life of Buddha is directed by the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, directed by lay Buddhist Tue Quang, and the music is performed by the band Huong Sac Bo De...

Attending the program were Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Head of the Central Cultural Committee, Vice President of the International Committee for Vesak; Venerable Thich Buu Chanh, Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Cultural Committee; Venerable Thich Hue Vinh, Deputy Head of the Cultural Committee, and other Venerable monks and nuns...

Buddhist art spreads in everyday life

Amidst the bustling and profound atmosphere of the 2025 Vesak Festival, the Buddhist art performance program is a place for music, theater, poetry and Buddhist symbols to blend, creating a space of intersection between religion and life, between tradition and contemporary.

According to the organizers, the event on the evening of May 3rd will be attended by 3,000 to 5,000 spectators. In the joyful atmosphere of the 2025 Vesak Festival, they will temporarily put aside the worries of life to watch the opera The Life and Career of Buddha Shakyamuni.

The play recreates the life and journey of enlightenment of Buddha Shakyamuni, from when he was Prince Siddhartha Gautama until he attained enlightenment and founded Buddhism.

With the typical Cai Luong language of Southern theater combined with a script adapted from the history of Buddha, the play not only shows the depth of Buddhist history but also arouses in the audience respect, sympathy and aspiration to practice.

Each performance, each rhythm of music and song is like a prayer echoing in life, gentle yet moving, close yet profound.

Venerable Thich Buu Chanh believes that when each melody and lyric is raised with a sincere heart, art is no longer just entertainment but a journey back to the inner self, a bridge between people and the truth of enlightenment.

"In the light of the Dharma and the spirit of compassion and wisdom, we believe that Buddhist art will continue to spread and touch the hearts of people today, regardless of borders, religions or languages," said Venerable Thich Buu Chanh.

The Life of Buddha - Photo 3.

A large audience enjoyed the Cai Luong art program The Life of Buddha at the 2025 Vesak Festival - Photo: TTD

Great honor to perform at Vesak 2025

With a sweaty face, walking backstage after the play ended, Meritorious Artist Le Tu happily told Tuoi Tre Online that performing at the 2025 Vesak Festival art program was a great honor for him and his wife.

In the play, Le Tu plays the role of King Tinh Phan - Buddha's father, and Ha Nhu, his wife, plays the role of Queen Ma Ha Ba Xa Ba De (stepmother).

"With this play, Le Tu had the opportunity to sing many times. Once, I had the chance to play the role of Buddha, performing at Thien Hung Pagoda, Binh Dinh. And on this occasion, I played the role of Buddha's father.

The Life of Buddha - Photo 4.

Scene of Buddha entering nirvana in the play - Photo: TTD

Not only Le Tu, but the crew members also tried their best to focus on making the program to serve the audience" - he said.

Le Tu said he started learning about Buddhism about 6 or 7 years ago. Last year, his family also had the opportunity to take refuge at the Vietnam National Pagoda.

"I am fortunate to be a Buddhist, so I always have faith in Religion and Life. Religion teaches us about enlightenment and letting go. And I also believe in the law of cause and effect in Buddhism. When we do something wrong, we will have to pay, but if we aim for it with all our heart, we will receive worthy results" - Le Tu confided.