Board of directors of Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha in Que Vo district held the Buddha's birthday ceremony at Diên Quang pagoda – Bắc Ninh

On May 27th, 2018 (April 13th, Year of the Dog), board of directors of Vietnam’sBuddhist Sangha in Que Vodistrict solemnly held the Buddha's birthday ceremony (year 2562 in Buddhist Calendar and 2018 as Solar Year) at Dien Quang pagoda, Guot village, Viet Hung commune, Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province. In the morning, Dr. Bui Huu Duoc - Director of the Buddhist Department - The Government Committee for Religious Affairs shared with the Buddhists about the topic "Vesak Day"

At 9 o'clock, the Buddha's Birthday ceremony was officially celebrated.

The witness in the ceremony was presented the deputies, such as Venerable Thích Thanh Phụng – member of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Council, Head of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bắc Ninh province; Venerable Thích Thanh Trung – member of the Executive Board, Deputy Standing Committee of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province; Venerable Thich Chan Tinh - the abbot of Hoang PhapPagoda; Reverend Thích Gioi Thanh - permanent member, Head of the Board of Supervision of Monks and Nuns of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province, Head of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Que Vo district, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Buddha's Birthday ceremony; Reverend Thích Nhuan Huu - permanent member, Head of Culture of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province, Head of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tien Du district; Reverend Thich Tam Quan, Head of propagation of faith of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province, Head of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Luong Tai district; Reverend Thich Phap Bình – member of propagation of faith of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chí Minh city; Reverend Thích Thanh Chung – member of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province, Major Committee of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Gia Bình district; Reverend Thich Thanh Hai - member of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bac Ninh province, Major Committee of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Tu Sơn commune; Reverend Thích Thien Hoang, Chief Secretary of Thuan Thanh district; Nun Thich Tam Huong, Vice director of Board of Nuns in Bac Ninh province, Major Committee of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Lương Tài district; Master Thích Đàm Ân - Major Committee of board of directors of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Luong Tai   district together with the monks and the nuns and representatives of department managers, unions within the province and district as participants.

At the great ceremony, Reverend Thích Thanh Trung sedately read 'The message of President of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to Monks, Nuns and Buddhists on the Buddha's birthday ceremony (year 2562 in Buddhist Calendar and 2018 as Solar Year).

Then, Reverend Thich Gioi Thanh has read the opening speech of the Venerable President of the Central Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. On the side of the government, Mr. Hoang Minh Xuyen, Deputy Secretary, Chairman of Que Vo People's Committee, on behalf of leaders of departments, unions from province to local, said congratulations.

During the ceremony, representatives of the mass organizations also sent flowers to congratulate the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Que Vo district on Buddha's birthday this year.

Besides, on this occasion, the Organizing Committee has given great gifts to elementary school children in difficult circumstances in the district.

After the administrative rituals, the monks of the Sangha and the delegates, the Buddhists celebrated the Buddha bathing ceremony and   released the pigeons and bubbles to pray the world of peace in the joy of the congregation.

During the ceremony, there was an entertainment program with the participation of Thang Long group with the song Dang hoa (Offering flowers) and Ngan nam sen no (Thousand years of lotus blossom); the dance group of Vietnam Dance College with the item Hoa thom ngay Phat Dan (Fragrant Flower of Buddha Day); Nhat Le and Thu Trang Buddhists with the song Ngay ram, thang Tu (Full moon day in April); Singer Lan Anh and Be Singer club with the song "Happy Buddha's Birthday".

In the afternoon, Monks of the Sangha took to the stage to hand over the Three Jewels, the Five Precepts for more than 1000 men in the air of the pure dignity of the ashram.

 Below are recorded photographs:

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Minh Trang