Following several rituals, including bathing the Buddha statue, the ceremony concluded with the release of birds and balloons to pray for global peace and happiness. (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – A ceremony was held at Bang Long Pagoda in Vientiane, Laos, on May21 to mark the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday, with the participation of hundreds ofBuddhist monks, nuns, and followers from the Vietnamese community in thecountry.
Addressingthe ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, a member of the Secretariat of the ExecutiveCouncil and head of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s cultural department, reada message from the VBS Supreme Patriarch.
TheVBS was honoured to host the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak in the northernprovince of Ha Nam from May 12-14, he said, noting that the event was a greatsuccess.
Hecalled on Buddhist followers and the Vietnamese community in Laos to unite,observe local law, participate in activities organised by Bang Long Pagoda, andcontinue to work as a bridge for the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.
Followingseveral rituals, including bathing the Buddha statue, the ceremony concludedwith the release of birds and balloons to pray for global peace and happiness.
The 16th UN Dayof Vesak 2019 brought together 1,650 international delegates from 112 countriesand territories worldwide.
Vesak, or theDay of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the year’s most sacred day to themillions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and ahalf millennia ago that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesakthat the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that theBuddha passed away.
The UN’scommemoration of Vesak has been held in Vietnam three times so far. Previously,it had taken place in Hanoi in 2008 and in the northern province of Ninh Binhin 2014. –VNA
VNA
