Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Marks Buddha's Birth Anniversary
The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) celebrated Lord Buddha's 2630th birth anniversary at the Viet Nam Buddhist Institute in Ha Noi's Soc Son outlying district on May 12.
Vice President Truong My Hoa, Vice Prime Minister Vu Khoan, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Pham The Duyet and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Ngo Yen Thi attended the ceremony.
Thousands of Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers took part in the event. The celebration began with a parade of carriages decorated with flowers by Buddhist followers of districts in Ha Noi.
Most Venerable, Thich Thanh Tu, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council of the VBS Central Committee and Director of the Viet Nam Buddhist Institute, delivered a speech praising the significance of the celebration this year - the year 2550 of the Buddhist calendar - which is the first year that the United Nations has recognised Lord Buddha's birth anniversary as a world religious festival, and the 25th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha.
The VBS extended best wishes to Buddhist monks, nuns and followers and wished for the country's prosperity, people's happiness and world peace, he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice PM Vu Khoan said that Vietnamese Buddhists have carried out activities benefiting both the society and religious practices, encouraging Buddhist followers to take part in emulation drives, economic development and humanitarian activities.
Khoan said the Government hoped that Buddhist monks, nuns and followers would develop the religion, follow Buddhism's teachings, continually improve their ethics, implement citizens' obligations and contribute to great national unity and religious unity for the goals of a prosperous people, a strong country, and a fair, democratic and civilized society.
The same day, celebrations of Buddha's birth anniversary and the 2550th year of the Buddhist calendar were also held in Quan Su and other pagodas in Ha Noi, and other provinces and cities nationwide.
Source: VNA
