Venerable Sakyamuni Buddha's relics and pray for world peace

Within the framework of the activities of the United Nations Vesak 2025, on the evening of May 8, at the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, Tay Ninh Province, the Vesak 2025 delegation, including more than 1,200 international delegates from 80 countries, along with more than 800 domestic delegates from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, performed the ceremony of enshrining the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni; praying for world peace and planting 108 Bodhi trees branched from Bodh Gaya (India).

Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Hoai Bac and representatives of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission attended the ceremony.

At Ba Den Mountain, the highest mountain in the South, Buddha's relics will be enshrined at the Buddhist Exhibition Center of Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area from May 8-13, 2025 for Buddhists and the public to worship during the Great Festival.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that Tay Ninh is a land rich in cultural traditions, converging diverse beliefs, in which Buddhism plays an important role in the spiritual life of the people.

Ba Den Mountain is the highest mountain in the South (986m high), with the legend of Linh Son Thanh Mau, and has long been a pilgrimage and worship destination for millions of Buddhists and tourists every year.

Over the years, the Party Committee and the government of Tay Ninh province have always implemented the consistent policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State of Vietnam, respecting and ensuring freedom of belief, creating favorable conditions for religions, including Buddhism, to operate within the framework of the law, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc, building the homeland and country to become increasingly rich and civilized. Within the framework of the activities of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, Tay Ninh province is honored to welcome the Vesak delegation to come and carry out meaningful activities, contributing to spreading the message of compassion, solidarity, love and the aspiration for peace and happiness for humanity.

Most Venerable Professor, Dr. Phra Brahmapundit, Chairman of the International Organizing Committee of the United Nations Day of Vesak, speaks. (Photo: Minh Phu/VNA)

Venerable Maha Veth Masaenai, Permanent Vice President of the Lao Buddhist Alliance, shared his joy at being able to admire the Buddha's relics at Ba Den Mountain. For the Lao delegation, this was a great honor, because the event of welcoming the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni has great significance for monks, nuns, and Buddhists.

The relics of Buddha Shakyamuni enshrined in Vietnam for people and Buddhists to worship during the Great Festival will contribute to bringing blessings, while promoting peace, economy, and politics in the region as well as in the world, becoming increasingly sustainable.

Attending the tree planting ceremony at Bodhi Garden World - Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, Most Venerable Thich Minh Thien, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long An province, shared: "108 Bodhi trees were planted by eminent monks and leaders from all over the world with filial piety, as a representation of the wish that everyone must love and marry each other, protect each other and build happiness with compassion and wisdom."

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that the candle lighting and flower offering ceremony for world peace demonstrates the value of Buddhism in its global mission of not only preserving spiritual traditions, but also actively contributing to international dialogues on peace, human rights and sustainable development.

Ms. Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy, Deputy General Director of Sun Group Southern Region, informed that the Vesak 2025 event held at Ba Den Mountain is a great honor for Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area.

Delegates perform the Bodhi tree planting ceremony at Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, Tay Ninh Province. (Photo: Minh Phu/VNA)

The procession of the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni from India to Ba Den Mountain is not only a major religious event but also an opportunity to introduce to international friends the land of Tay Ninh, where Ba Den Mountain is the highest in the South with majestic spiritual structures on the top of the mountain, one of the attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.

At the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, eminent monks and leaders of Buddhist delegations from 80 countries planted 108 Bodhi trees, each tree numbered separately for each Buddhist delegation from different countries.

On the first floor of the Buddhist Exhibition Center - where the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni are enshrined - it is also decorated and ready to welcome thousands of Buddhists to come and worship the treasures of world Buddhism.

Previously, the 2025 Vesak Festival opened on May 6 and closed on May 8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, with the participation of more than 2,700 delegates, including 1,250 international guests.

The 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival is expected to contribute to promoting tourism development and economic investment in Vietnam and is also an opportunity for Vietnam to become a destination for international tourists from the beautiful image created through the United Nations' international cultural event./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ton-tri-xa-loi-duc-phat-thich-ca-mau-ni-va-cau-nguyen-hoa-binh-the-gioi-post1037444.vnp