A lively celebration of Buddha's Birthday at Go Ken Zen Monastery.

On the morning of May 30th, Thien Lam Go Ken Pagoda (Hoa Thanh Ward, Tay Ninh Province) held the Grand Buddha's Birthday Celebration for the Buddhist year 2570 – Gregorian year 2026. The ceremony took place in a solemn and respectful atmosphere with the participation of delegates and a large number of monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers.

Delegates and Buddhist followers attend the Buddha's Birthday chanting ceremony (Photo: Chau Tam)

Attendees included former members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and former Secretaries of the Tay Ninh Provincial Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Minh and Le Thi Ban; Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tay Ninh province, Nguyen Tien Tan; Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion, Truong Thi Phuong Thao; Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Support of People with Disabilities, the Poor, and the Protection of Children's Rights, Nguyen Van Qua; and representatives from various departments, agencies, organizations, and localities in the province.

Delegates perform the flag-raising ceremony at the Buddha's Birthday celebration.

Representatives of the Buddhist Church attend the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Go Ken Pagoda.

Representing the Provincial Buddhist Association were Venerable Thich Thien Hue – Member of the Council of Buddhist Elders of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), and Advisor to the Executive Board of the VBS in Tay Ninh province; Venerable Thich Minh Thien – Member of the Executive Council of the VBS, and Advisor to the Executive Board of the VBS in Tay Ninh province; and Venerable Thich Quang Tam – Member of the Executive Council of the VBS, and Head of the Executive Board of the VBS in Tay Ninh province.

At the ceremony, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tay Ninh province held a Buddhist prayer service, praying for national peace and prosperity; read the Buddha's Birthday message for the year 2570 of the Buddhist calendar from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; and read the speech for the Great Buddha's Birthday Celebration for the year 2570 of the Buddhist calendar by the Venerable Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

A cultural program rich in national identity at the Buddha's Birthday celebration.

Former member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and former Secretary of the Tay Ninh Provincial Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Minh, presented flowers to congratulate the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Thien Lam Go Ken Pagoda.

The speech emphasized the significance of Buddha's birthday, honoring the three sacred events of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into Nirvana; it also highlighted the role of Buddhism in building peace, accompanying and contributing to the nation's readiness to enter a new phase of development - an era of national progress.

Venerable Thich Minh Thien – Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Advisor and Director of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tay Ninh province – delivered a speech on the significance of organizing the Buddha's Birthday celebration.

Venerable Thich Minh Thien – Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Advisor and Director of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tay Ninh province – called on monks, nuns, and Buddhists in the province to always live in the spirit of gratitude to the Master and the senior Patriarchs; to promote the spirit of harmony, wisdom, and dedication for the benefit of both religion and life; to strive diligently in practice, live virtuously, compassionately, and lovingly towards all people to build a peaceful and happy society.

Delegates, dignitaries, and monks perform the ritual of offering incense and flowers as offerings.

Delegates perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha.

To conclude the ceremony, the venerable monks and the entire congregation performed the ritual of offering flowers, chanting the Buddha's birthday prayers, and bathing the Buddha, symbolizing the purification of body and mind, and the awakening of compassion and wisdom.

Buddhists perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue to purify body and mind, and to cultivate compassion and wisdom.

In particular, after the ceremony, Go Ken Zen Monastery organizes many meaningful activities such as praying for national peace and prosperity, Buddhist Dharma lectures, a parade of flower floats along the streets, releasing lanterns, a free vegetarian buffet with 26 dishes, and a cultural program for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and visitors who come to the temple to offer flowers, incense, and prayers on the occasion of Buddha's birthday.

Go Ken Zen Monastery during the celebration of the Buddha's Birthday in 2026 – Buddhist calendar 2570 (Photo: Chau Tam)

Buddha's Birthday is the day of birth of the compassionate Buddha Shakyamuni, the Great Enlightened One who appeared for the benefit of gods and humans. Beyond its commemorative purpose, Buddha's Birthday also carries profound significance regarding the purification of afflictions and the pursuit of purity in the three actions of body, speech, and mind.

The annual celebration of Buddha's Birthday, organized with great emphasis by Buddhist organizations, not only meets the legitimate religious needs of the people but also vividly affirms the consistent policy of the Party and State on guaranteeing freedom of belief and religion.

Linh San

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/ron-rang-dai-le-phat-dan-phat-lich-2570-duong-lich-2026-tai-chua-thien-lam-go-ken-148109.html