Buddha's birth anniversary celebrated nationwide
Buddha's 2,546th birth anniversary was celebrated on May 26, or the 15th day of the fourth lunar month in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces throughout the country.
At the Quan Su pagoda in Hanoi, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, deputy president of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) read a letter from VBS President Most Venerable Thich Tam Tich. The message expressed hope for more contributions to the nation and good preparations for the fifth national VBS congress from Buddhist dignitaries and followers in and outside the country.
The Buddha's birth anniversary was also marked at the Vinh Nghiem pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, the Tu Dam pagoda in central Thua Thien-Hue province and other pagodas nationwide the same day.
Earlier, on May 25, Buddha's 2,546th birthday was also celebrated at the Ba Da Pagoda in Hanoi on May 25 (the 14th day of the fourth lunar month).
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, permanent deputy chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s Executive Council, and Buddhist dignitaries and followers attended the celebration. Also present were Pham Loi, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Hanoi branch and representatives of the municipal authorities.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Chinh, member of the VBS Central Committee's Patronage Council and permanent deputy chairman of the Executive Council of the Hanoi Buddhist Sangha, delivered the message from the VBS chairman, calling on monks, nuns and believers in and outside the country to further contribute to national development.
Buddhist followers paid tribute to he Buddha and held a dove releasing ceremony.
On the occasion, authorities of central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Phu Yen paid visits and presented gifts to the provincial Buddhist Sangha and dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers at pagodas in these localities.
