Light up the spirit of compassion and kindness

The Buddha's Birthday (also known as Vesak) is a sacred and important event celebrated annually by monks, nuns, and Buddhists around the world. The main Buddha's Birthday celebration is held on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month to commemorate the birth of Buddha. In 1999, the United Nations issued a resolution establishing the festival as a world cultural and religious festival for peace.

Provincial leaders presented flowers and congratulated the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ha Tinh province on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, Buddhist calendar 2569 - solar calendar 2025.

This year, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak with the theme: “Solidarity and tolerance for human dignity. Buddhist wisdom for world peace and sustainable development”. The ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6 to 8, 2025 with the participation of 2,700 delegates, including 1,300 delegates from 85 countries and territories around the world.

In Ha Tinh, the 2569th Buddha's Birthday - 2025 solar calendar was held at more than 300 large and small pagodas in the area with different scales. Based on the guidance of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee, monks, nuns and Buddhists across the province organized and participated in many activities towards the great festival suitable to the scale of each pagoda such as: offering incense, praying, fasting, chanting Buddha's name, doing charity work, releasing animals, going to pagodas to listen to Buddhist teachings...

Buddha bathing ceremony at Buddha's birthday ceremony at Phong Phan pagoda.

Chosen as the provincial venue for this year's Buddha's Birthday, Phong Phan Pagoda (Xuan An Town, Nghi Xuan) solemnly held the ceremony on May 3 (April 6 of the lunar calendar) in a solemn, peaceful and respectful atmosphere. Earlier, in the afternoon of the same day, the ceremony of carrying the "Buddha's Birthday" from Cam Son Pagoda (Ha Tinh City) to Phong Phan Pagoda was solemnly held, marking the beginning of a series of events within the framework of the ceremony.

Venerable Thich Vien Nhu - Abbot of Phong Phan Pagoda shared: "This year's Buddha's Birthday was organized by the pagoda with many solemn and meaningful activities such as: offering incense, offering flowers, chanting sutras for peace, Buddha bathing ritual and releasing animals... attracting the participation of more than 1,500 delegates, monks, nuns and many Buddhists from near and far. In addition, before the ceremony, the pagoda and Buddhists also carried out many practical volunteer activities, spreading the spirit of compassion, kindness and sharing love to those in difficult circumstances in the community."

Meaningful performances at the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Phong Phan Pagoda.

The Buddha's birthday is also a moment for people to return to the source of spiritual light, the starting point of wisdom and compassion. The life and virtue of Buddha Shakyamuni become a mirror, reminding everyone to slow down and listen to themselves in the midst of a hurried life. In the peaceful space of the Zen monastery, everyone learns to let go of worries, resolve anger and ignorance, to feel lighter and open their minds to goodness...

“Every time I participate in the rituals at the Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony, I feel my soul lighter and more peaceful. In the solemn atmosphere of the ceremony, I always pray for peace and happiness for everyone. I also remind myself to try to live better every day, practice the Buddha’s teachings in daily life and teach my children to live kindly, to love and share,” said Buddhist Nguyen Thi Huong (Xuan An town).

At Phuc Linh Pagoda (Thach Dai Commune, Ha Tinh City), the grand ceremony was held on May 4 (April 7 of the lunar calendar) with the participation of more than 1,000 delegates, monks, nuns, and Buddhists. The grand ceremony was solemnly held to commemorate Buddha Shakyamuni. At the same time, it contributed to spreading the values ​​of compassion, wisdom, and harmony of Buddhism. This is also an opportunity for Buddhists to reflect on themselves, nurture a good heart and live responsibly, contributing to uniting the community in a spirit of love and solidarity.

Many monks, nuns, Buddhists and students attended the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Phuc Linh Pagoda.

On the occasion of the Buddha's Birthday, the Party Committees and authorities at all levels from the provincial to the grassroots level also created conditions for the management boards and pagodas to organize the ceremony in accordance with Buddhist rituals, and at the same time, directly attended and congratulated the ceremony. This contributed to affirming the Party and State's policy of freedom of religion, including Buddhism; recognizing the contributions of religion to the cause of national construction and development and social life. Thereby, it also encouraged monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers to continue to live a good life and follow their religion, working together to build their homeland to develop more and more.

A large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists and people attended the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Qua Pagoda (Duc Tho district).

Practicing the main theme of the ceremony is “Solidarity and tolerance for human dignity. Buddhist wisdom for world peace and sustainable development”, during this year’s Buddha’s birthday, every monk, nun, and Buddhist has determined and promoted their own spirit and responsibility in building a strong church, building a great national unity bloc, contributing to the development of the homeland and country in the new era. At the same time, spreading positive values ​​of life and the spirit of compassion and goodness of Buddhism in the social community.

Venerable Thich Chuc Giac

Head of Propagation Department - Executive Committee of Provincial Buddhist Sangha

Abbot of Phuc Linh Pagoda

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/thap-sang-tinh-than-tu-bi-va-huong-thien-post287640.html