Dai Loc Pagoda (the Sivali Vietnamese Theravada Trust), the firstTheravada pagoda recognised by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) inIndia, was inaugurated in Varanasi city, Uttar Pradesh State, onDecember 6.
Addressing a crowd of Vietnamese and Indian officialsand 10,000 Buddhist followers, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton SinhThanh expressed his hope that Dai Loc Pagoda will become a destinationfor Vietnamese pilgrims, thus helping strengthen friendship between thetwo countries’ peoples.
He also took this chance to thank Varanasi authorities for supporting the construction of this spiritual facility.
MostVenerable Thich Thien Nhon, President of the VBS’s Executive Council,said India is currently home to 13 pagodas built by Southeast Asiancountries. Among four Vietnamese temples here, Dai Loc is the first tobe recognised as a facility of the VBS.
Head monk of Dai LocPagoda Venerable Thich Tuong Quang said the temple will also accommodateVietnamese students who study Buddhism courses in India, open Buddhistcourses, and run charitable activities.
Covering 5,170 sq.m., DaiLoc Pagoda was built since 2009 at a cost of 1.3 million USD mostlydonated by philanthropists and followers. Notably, it houses a 18m-talland 700-tonne marble statue of Buddha giving sermon.-VNA