The Vesak festival at Dong Cao Pagoda - Thanh Hoa province.

According to Buddhist tradition, on April 15th every year (lunar calendar), Buddhists around the world joyfully greet the Shakyamuni Buddha"s birthday.

In that atmosphere, monks and nuns, and lay Buddhists gather around the pagodas to solemnly commemorate   this important event with the deepest respect. The birth of Buddha has marked the beginning of a new wisdom source which is a potential of endless enlightenment, existing in each person himself/herself. "All the livings have Buddha nature and ability to become a Buddha one day" – That is one of his wonderful messages when he sought the nirvana path.

 

Vaguely hearing the heaven music in the distance

Fragrant flowers appeared everywhere.

Simultaneously, the immense universe vibrated

A good omen: a superman would be born to cure mankind.

 

In the welcoming atmosphere of the Vesak festival which was taking place all over our country, the monks and Buddhists at Dong Cao Pagoda, Yen Khoai village, Nga Yen commune, Nga Son district, Thanh Hoa province had many activities for commemorating the day of Siddharta, who was born to save living beings.

In the morning of May, 30th, 2015 (April, 13rd, lunar Goat year), Dong Cao Pagoda solemnly celebrated the Vesak ceremony of 2559th year of Buddhist Calendar or 2015thcalendar year. Those  coming to witness and attend  were Ven. Thich Tam Chinh - the alternate member of the National Vietnam  Buddhist Sangha Executive Council, the secretary of the executive board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Thanh Hoa province, the head of the executive board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Nga Son district, the abbot of Kim Lien Pagoda; Ven. Thich Tam Hieu - the head of Can Mon Temple in Nghe An province; Ven. Thich Nguyen Thuong - the abbot of Hung Phuc Pagoda, Quang Hung commune, Quang Xuong district, Thanh Hoa province and the monks and nuns of the monasteries in Nga Son district.

In addition, Miss. Mai Thi Na and Mr. Pham Khac Tuan, assistant managers of the division of Culture - Information of Nga Son district; Mr. Mai Xuan Nang -  the chairman of the Elderly Association in Nga Yen commune; Mr. Nguyen Van Nguyen - the vice chief of  relic management board of Nga Yen commune, head of yen Khoai village and members of the local authorities, along with a large number of Buddhists inside and outside the district attended the ceremony.

At 8:30 sharp, the organizing board solemnly performed the Vesak ceremony of 2559th year of Buddhist Calendar or 2015th calendar year. On behalf of all the honoured monks, Ven. Thich Tam Chinh   proclaimed the message from the head of the witness council of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam to the monks, nuns,  and Vietnamese lay Buddhists on the occasion of the Vesak ceremony of 2559th year of Buddhist Calendar or 2015th calendar year. Next, Ven. Thich Tam Hieu declared the letter of the Most Ven, the head of Buddhist Executive Board. Then, on behalf of all the honoured monks, Ven. Thich Tam Chinh gave some speeches to the Buddhists who attended the great festival about the  Buddhism spirit in Vietnam.

 At the end of the ceremony, all the honoured monks and delegates offered flowers and performed the rite of bathing The Buddha in a solemn atmosphere and a great respect.

On this occasion, the organizing board gave VCDs "Do not be enchanted by  heresies." by  Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh to people for free.

In the evening of same day, Ven. Thich Tam Hung held a ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Triratna for over 100 believing men and women here and there. During the ceremony, Ven. Thich Tam Hieu explained the meaning of Refuge in The Triratna and observance of the five precepts to them so that they could fully understand the refuge.

At the end of the ceremony, the Venerable donated the books "The biography of Shakyamuni Buddha" and DVDs " Taking Refuge In the Triratna" which were produced by Hoang Phap Pagoda to the Buddhists.

These are some specific imagess: