Emotional Vu Lan night to remember the kindness of parents

The ceremony officially began at 7 p.m., but from very early on, the grounds of Phuoc Duyen Pagoda were packed with Buddhists and tourists attending.

At the beginning of the program, everyone chanted the Vu Lan Sutra together to show gratitude to their parents. Afterwards, the attendees knelt before their parents to express their gratitude for their upbringing and gave them gifts.

Under the shimmering yellow lights, the chanting and the MC's words about the gratitude of birth, everyone in attendance was moved to tears.

Below the stage, standing in front of their parents, the children sobbed, some burst into tears. The parents also held their children's hands tightly, thanking them for their love and filial piety.

Next is the flower pinning ceremony. Buddhists pin roses on the chests of their parents and those attending the ceremony. Those whose parents are still alive will pin a pink rose. Those who have lost their parents, or both, will pin a white rose.

This ritual originated from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In 1962, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh published an essay called “The Rose on the Lapel”, which tells the story of a Japanese student pinning a white carnation on his robe button on Mother’s Day in the West. The Zen Master had lost his mother, so he wore a white carnation.

Seeing the profound meaning of pinning a flower on one's chest to remember one's mother, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh applied the rose pinning ceremony to Vu Lan festival. This ceremony was later organized by pagodas in Vietnam on Vu Lan festival and is still maintained to this day.

Touching images at Vu Lan ceremony:

Children kneel before their parents to say thank you for their great kindness.
My tight hugs for my parents
The abbot of Phuoc Duyen Pagoda explains to Buddhists the meaning of Vu Lan ceremony and filial piety in the family.
Children pin roses on their parents' chests on Vu Lan night.
The tight handshake of mother, father and child
The choking tears of a child whose mother is still alive, receiving a gift for her on Vu Lan night
Many parents also shed tears before their children's affection.
Vu Lan Festival is one of the important rituals of Buddhist children. In the photo, young people express their love to their parents in a decorative corner inside Phuoc Duyen Pagoda.
A happy family, taking a photo together on Vu Lan night
As for monks, Buddhists will pin a yellow rose on their chest, symbolizing the color of Buddhism.

NHAT MINH (performed)