Many meaningful activities to celebrate Buddha's Birthday 2023

BTO - Buddha's Birthday is held annually on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month, to commemorate the birth of Buddha. This year's Buddha's Birthday was carefully prepared by the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at all levels and places of worship in the province, with solemn celebrations organized.

Buddha Shakyamuni, whose real name is Siddhartha Gautama, was born on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, 624 BC in Lumbini Garden and entered nirvana in 554 BC. The anniversary of Buddha's birth has a special significance for monks, nuns, and Buddhists around the world in general and in Vietnam in particular. Buddha's birthday is celebrated annually by the United Nations as a world religious festival to honor the profound humanistic values of Buddhism for peace for humanity. In the province, Buddha's birthday is solemnly celebrated every year to honor the good values of Buddhism. At the same time, this is an opportunity for monks, nuns, and Buddhists to review the life and immeasurable merits of Buddha Shakyamuni.

With the message of this year's Buddha's Birthday season, we continue to emphasize to monks, nuns, Buddhists and people the spirit of turning to the nation's roots, showing gratitude to our ancestors who have made great contributions to repelling foreign invaders, building and protecting the country. At the same time, we promote the tradition of protecting the nation and the people, accompanying the nation, upholding the responsibility and role of building the great national unity bloc, building and protecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new era.

Venerable Thich Quang Phap - Chief of Office of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee said: This year's Buddha's Birthday is a festival of great significance for Buddhists in general and the Provincial Buddhist Sangha in particular. The Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee has made a plan to organize the Buddha's Birthday Festival of Buddhist calendar 2567 and the local Buddha's Birthday Week. Accordingly, it guides the District, Town, City Executive Committees and monks, nuns, and Buddhists of monasteries across the province to organize the Buddha's Birthday Festival of Buddhist calendar 2567 depending on the actual situation in the locality. The organization time is from April 1 to April 15, Quy Mao (ie May 19 - June 2, 2023). In which, the Buddha's Birthday Week is from April 8 to April 15, Quy Mao (ie May 26 - June 2, 2023). The main ceremony is on April 15, Quy Mao year (June 2, 2023).

This year, the celebration of Buddha's birthday is also an occasion to celebrate the success of the Buddhist Congresses at all levels, responding to the National Tourism Year with the theme "Binh Thuan - Green Convergence". Accordingly, the Provincial Executive Committee will organize many solemn and meaningful activities. Specifically, decorating the streets, setting up the main stage at Vo Van Kiet Park (Phan Thiet City), parading flower cars on some Phan Thiet City streets; decorating flower boats, launching, lighting 7 large lotus flowers on Ca Ty River, serving vegetarian buffet and performing cultural and artistic performances to worship Buddha's birthday.

Trial launch of lotus flower on Ca Ty river

On this holiday, pagodas and places of worship in the province decorate with flags, lights, banners, and set up Buddha baths, perform traditional rituals, and many joyful activities to celebrate Buddha's Birthday such as: making offerings, burning incense, lighting candles, praying for national peace and prosperity, Buddha bathing rituals, organizing lectures on Buddhism interspersed with art performances... A characteristic of this holiday is charity work, Buddhists often carry out work to help the poor and those who need special care. Charitable and social security activities are organized such as visiting and giving gifts, distributing free rice, building houses for the poor, granting scholarships to poor but studious students... Charitable work is not only a way to express gratitude but also helps Buddhists train their souls and achieve higher enlightenment... Celebration activities will be organized according to plan, ensuring safety in disease prevention and food safety, fire prevention during the entire duration of the Great Festival.

Charitable activities to help the poor and social protection beneficiaries on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday 2023

With its celebratory activities, Vesak is not only an occasion to honor the Buddha but also a special day to remind Buddhists of compassion and kindness, creating conditions for each person to make positive contributions to society, bringing happiness to everyone around.

Source