Tuesday, 04/21/2026
The Great Ceremony of Buddha Birthday at Dong Cao Pagoda, Thanh Hoa
Update: 30/05/2023
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After the performance of singers and Buddhists at Dong Cao pagoda; all participants queued in two lines face-to-face welcoming venerable monks and nuns to the main hall at 9h am.
The ceremony was witnessed, present Junior Thich Nguyen Hiep, Member of Director Boards of VietNam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) of Nga Son district, Abbot of Kim Lien pagoda in Nga Son, Thanh Hoa province; Junior Thich Tam Nghien, monks of Hoang Phap pagoda in HCMC; Nun Thich Nu Thanh Thuy – Vice Secretary of Nga Son district’s Buddhist Department, Abbot of Kim Thanh pagoda in Nga Son, Thanh Hoa; Junior Thich Tam Hung, Vice of Director Board of Nga Son district’s VBS, Abbot of Dong Cao pagoda, Head of the Organizers.
To the local authorities, there were some representatives: Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Chief Inspector of Environment Resources of Thanh Hoa province. Representatives of agencies and sectors in Nga Son district: Mr. Pham Tri But - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nga Yen commune; Mr. Mai Huu Hoang - Vice Chairman of People's Committee of Nga Yen Commune. Departments in the commune: Mr. Mai Van Long, Head of Yen Khoai Village, people, and Buddhists around.
Before the ceremony, the mass performed the National anthem - Buddhism anthem, and stayed silent for a minute to remember the holy sacrifice for Buddhism, souls of soldiers sacrificing for humankind happiness and peace.
Then, members of the Youth Club of Dong Cao pagoda offered the most beautiful flowers to the Buddha and the Sangha on the Buddha’s birthday celebration. On behalf of the Sangha, Junior Thich Nguyen Hiep proclaimed a Buddha’s Birthday celebration message of Dharma Lord of VBS, Buddhist Calendar in 2567.
Next, Junior Thich Tam Nghien, monks of Hoang Phap pagoda stated a lecture: “The meaning of Buddha’s birthday celebration”. The local government gave a congratulatory speech to the Abbot and Buddhists, and offered a flower basket to the Buddha.
On behalf of the Organizers, Junior Thich Tam Hung stated dharma words to Buddhists on Buddha’s Birthday. He encouraged followers to live as Buddha’s teachings in daily life by practical actions in order to express their gratitude to Buddha and Patriarch.
Then, he invited the Buddhists to take advantage of the time to attend Dharma preaching sessions in the retreat "Welcome to the Buddha's Birthday 2023" from May 19th to June 2nd, 2023 (April 1st-15th, Year of the Cat).
To close the ceremony, the monks and Buddhists performed the rites of Buddha’s Birthday and Buddha bathing. After that, the attendees released creatures to spread their love.
After the ceremony, the participants enjoyed a warm vegetarian buffet in the cocultivation relationship and received a gift of dharma.
The great ceremony ended with the joy of everyone.
The ceremony to take in Three Refuges - Five Precepts in the afternoon was held in the witness of the temple's monks for nearly 50 good men and believing women, who received precepts to become lay Buddhists.
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