Over one thousand people in praying ceremony at Co Am pagoda in Nghe An Province

In the morning of Feb 5th 2017 (Lunar January 09th, Rooster Year), Co Am pagoda organized praying ceremony for peace at the beginning of a new year with the participation of more than one thousand Buddhists in Nghe An Province.

In early days of New Year, people always pray for themselves and their families with peace, happiness, all successful wishes. Therefore, this praying ceremony for peace at the beginning of a new year is an opportunity for people to concentrate on perfect things.

This year, Co Am pagoda welcomed more than 10.000 tourists, so all stages of the organization were prepared early. In particular, more than 10 thousands bento lunch boxes were made by Hoa Dam Bodhimandala and Tuy Duyen Bodhimandala from morning to late night to offer and serve lunch for the Buddhists.

At 8:30am the praying ceremony officially began in three bell rings to welcome Venerables. Before time for praying, Venerable Thich Tam Thanh – Co Am abbot sent wishes for health, peace to all Buddhists and their families presenting in the ceremony.

By celebrating the ritual for peace, the Venerable advocated that appearance had better not be over-worried good or bad problems but always practice charitable works, and preclude or convert the evil deeds into the meritorious ones.

As Co Am pagoda is nearly completed and the papaya-wood Buddha statue needs re-painting, many kind-hearted followers have contributed greatly to the painting and the constructing during the mass.

Peace Praying– Six Senses Repentance - was chanted to show the repentance and the followers felt themselves cleansed of the already-caused sins and aim for the good doings in the future.

By the end of the mass, the followers lined up and quietly walked to the Patriarch House to receive boxes of steam rice which had been prepared, and then they had lunch in the main hall.

Here are some images recorded: