Sunday, 04/19/2026
Lotus Candle-Light Ceremony at Con Son Head Pagoda, Hai Duong
Update: 13/02/2017
At 18:30, the program started with the Buddha statue placing ceremony. The program continued with the welcoming the delegation of clergy guests of honor onto the stage to witness and hold the Lotus Candle-Light Ceremony. The soothing voice of sutra chanting and bell in the quiet environment of mountains and forests of Con Son started the ceremony. Everyone wholeheartedly headed to Buddha to pray for a peaceful world, prosperous country, and happy families. After the statement of reason and introduction of audience, Reverend Thich Thanh Vien, Abbot of Con Son head pagoda declared the opening speech, highlighting the importance and value of Con Son in Vietnam traditional culture and Vietnamese spiritual life. The candle light sharing meant the continuing and developing the light of wisdom and compassion of Buddhism Dharma from predecessors down to generations.
After that, the mass sincerely offered incense to Triratna and Bodhisattvas in ten directions; then came the most important part of the event, light sharing ritual. In the melodious music and pure environment, with the witness of Buddha, candle light, symbol of compassion, wisdom, knowledge and loving kindness, preached from predecessors to successors. All settled in Buddha’s glory name with calm and pure mind. "light shares from candle to candle, from heart to heart". Candle light, the symbol of wisdom and truth, understanding and loving kindness shone into this life to dispel the ignorance and delusion, to illuminate the faith and hope. From the first candle, the flame kept on preaching. The light illuminated the sky of Con Son head pagoda. The brightness together with the incense smokes made it the environment of peace, purityand ease in this secular world. The whole ashram sincerely recited Buddha name with the guidance from the monks, making this saha world the Pure land right here, at Con Son head pagoda.
Especially in this event, in order to express the gratitude and repayment from the posterity to predecessors, the mass together stated the 20 themes of gratitude reviewing the great merits and the quarter-key graces we have received in our whole life. The statement reminded participants their duties and responsibilities in life.
The dharma talk from the Senior Venerable Thich Thanh Van, deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Hai Duong Province closed the ceremony.
In the program, singers Pham Hai, Quynh Hoa, Anh Linh, Hau Hien and Mc Ha Trang offered their performance to Buddha.
Late at night, when the moon got high in the sky, it was the time to end the ceremony in the joys of all.
On this occasion, the organizers sent Dharma gifts to all the participants.
Following are the recorded photographs:
BBT Website