Sparkling night of lanterns in Vu Lan season of filial piety

Under the direction of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi has solemnly organized the Vu Lan Ceremony of filial piety and the "Rose pinning ceremony" with the participation of thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists, and students at the academy.

Not only a Buddhist ritual, Vu Lan today has a social influence. There, the spirit of gratitude and filial piety of Buddhism is combined smoothly with the cultural tradition of “remembering the source of water when drinking,” becoming the place where the filial piety tradition of the Vietnamese people crystallizes.

Vu Lan Festival is to commemorate our ancestors, President Ho Chi Minh, and the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country, preserving the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; to commemorate our ancestors and parents, to remind everyone to cherish what they have, to do filial acts to show affection and gratitude...

At the program, Venerable Thich Thanh Dat, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi, also gave a lecture on the meaning of Vu Lan festival.

Monks, nuns, and Buddhists also performed the "Rose Pinning Ceremony." The image of a rose is not only a symbol of love between couples, but also a symbol of the noble love of children for their parents. The yellow flowers symbolize detachment and peace.

On the occasion of Vu Lan season of filial piety and the 715th anniversary of the Nirvana of King Tran Nhan Tong, at Yen Tu Pagoda, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quang Ninh province also held a ceremony to bless the opening of the statue of King Tran Nhan Tong and restart the production of the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni.

It is expected that after completion, the Jadeite Buddha Shakyamuni statue will weigh up to 16 tons, be 3m high, 2m wide and 1m long. The pedestal will weigh up to 9 tons, be 60cm high, and each side is 2.1m. This will also be the largest Jadeite Buddha statue in the world.