Celebrating Buddha’s birth in HCM City

by Ngọc Diệp

HCM CITY — Several religious activities through HCM City have marked the occasion of the Buddha’s 2,562th birthday, which fell on May 29 this year, the 15th day of the fourth lunar month.

This is one of the most important celebrations in the Buddhist calendar, not only in Việt Nam but also around the world.

Vietnamese Buddhists and believers across the city have been organising the Buddha’s birth (Vesak) celebrations since the beginning of the week.

These include the Buddha’s bathing ceremony, incense offerings, release of balloons and pigeons to pray for peace, and many humanitarian activities.

A religious activity releasing Hoa Đăng (flower garlands and coloured lanterns) on Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal near by Lê Văn Sỹ Bridge attracted thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists and believers on the evening of May 28.

All pagodas and temples in the city have been beautifully decorated with coloured lanterns and Buddhist flags.

The city’s Buddhist Sangha held a solemn ceremony to celebrate the day at the Việt Nam Quốc Tự Pagoda in District 10 on the morning of May 29.

Việt Nam has more than 12 million Buddhist followers and 50,000 Buddhist monks and nuns, practising religion in over 17,000 Buddhist places of worship.

Buddhism has the largest number of followers in the country. — VNS