2 days, 13 countries, and about 70,000 attendees - a memorable grand celebration of Vesak

The Grand Vesak Celebration 2023 at Ba Vang Pagoda, Vietnam has ended, but it has left indelible impressions on those who attended. Not only was it about remarkable numbers, stunning costumes, or colorful flags and flowers, but also the solidarity and harmony of monks, nuns, and Buddhists worldwide.

Gift-offering program: Strengthening the Dharma friendship among countries

During the grand celebration, Ba Vang Pagoda was honored to welcome venerable monks, ambassadors, leaders, and former leaders of the government, etc. from 13 countries to attend, including Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Laos, Campuchia, the Czech Republic, China, the United States, and Vietnam. 

In the joyful atmosphere of Vesak Day, on the afternoon of May 20, 2023, international venerable monks and delegates offered gifts to monks of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). 

“Your presence is a witness for the Buddha's teaching that monks are in harmony like milk and water.” - spoke Thay. He also expressed his gratitude to the revered venerables and wished international Buddhism to be more and more connected:  

“In such a meaningful moment, I have nothing to say except to express my deep gratitude for all the love that you had for us. I believe it is a gift of sentimental value. We hope that international Buddhism bonds develop; Buddhism across all countries in the world will join forces to build a happy and peaceful world.”

In addition, Ms. Pham Thi Yen – a representative Buddhist of the Yellow Chrysanthemum Club, Ba Vang Pagoda - respectfully made offerings to the venerable monks. The program took place in a happy atmosphere and carried a special meaning, contributing to the solidarity and harmony among assemblies.

Vesak Art Performance Night: Praising the Buddha's noble birth

The evening show on the same day featured Layla, Anh Dat - the Runners-up of The Voice Vietnam, other professional artists, the youth in the Talent Department, Youth Club, and Rahula Club performing songs and dances to praise the noble birth of the Buddha. 

With modern and youthful melodies, songs such as “The Buddha was born for the sake of all beings,” “In May, all beings celebrate the Buddha's birthday,” etc., composed by Ms. Pham Thi Yen bilingually performed for the first time in English-Vietnamese languages. Those might be the spotlight of the Art Performance Night in contribution to spreading Buddhist songs to the international community. 

Besides fresh melodies, traditional ethnic musical instruments were also used in the program, highlighting the beauty of Vietnamese tradition, hence helping to promote national culture to people across the globe.

The Grand Celebration of Vesak 2023 and the inauguration of the world's biggest on-mountain Buddhist Lecture Hall

On May 21, 2023, the Vesak Festival continued with two main programs: the Grand Celebration of Vesak 2023 and the Inauguration of the world's biggest on-mountain Buddhist Lecture Hall.

“The Buddha's invaluable teachings on love, mutual sharing, compassion, non-violence, and the path to liberation truly act as the guiding principle for finding solutions to human beings' intractable issues.” (Vesak speech - BE.2567 - CE.2023 from Most Ven - The Chairman of Administrative Council in Vietnam Buddhist Sangha)

In the Vesak Message (BE 2567 - CE 2023) by the Supreme Patriarch of the VBS read on the program, he called on: “During this year's Vesak season, monks, nuns, and Buddhists should strive to do good deeds, actively contribute to the country's development, and shape peace, forming a lotus throne as an offering to the Buddha.” 

Also, in the program, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh shared the brief history of the Pagoda; Buddhist learning and practice of monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists; and the development of infrastructure to facilitate Buddhist learning and practice, prominently the Great Lecture Hall, with a capacity of  12,000 to 13,000 people. 

“The Great Lecture Hall is the convergence and spread of Buddhist spiritual values, a special highlight of Ba Vang Pagoda, and a unique work in Vietnam, Asia, as well as in the world. It is also a pride for Quang Ninh province, for Buddhism in Vietnam, and for the country as a whole.” - shared Thay.

What's more, the Grand Lecture Hall of Ba Vang Pagoda has gloriously received the record of the world's biggest on-mountain Buddhist Lecture Hall from the World Record Union (WorldKings) and the World Record Association (WRA).

The next program is the Inauguration of the world's biggest on-mountain Buddhist Lecture Hall, which was followed by joy and pride of attendees. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the monks, nuns, leaders, delegates, and other attendees entered the 2nd floor of the Hall to conduct an incense-offering ritual and behold this magnificent construction.

A miraculous change of weather

Another notable and unmissable point here was the weather during the grand festival. About 1-2 days before the Vesak Celebration, it was so hot and muggy in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province. Many people were concerned that the weather would affect the grand celebration. 

However, at about 3 a.m. on May 21, 2023, it suddenly poured down and gradually let up until dawn. Therefore, the morning programs took place in a cool and comfortable atmosphere. Thanks to the weather, everyone attending the celebration then enjoyed the miraculous change in weather. 

Talking about this miracle, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh shared in his Dharma teachings on the afternoon of May 21, 2023:

“The weather is really amazing. It is, for sure, the support for those who are respectful and happy about the birth of the Buddha. In order to prepare for the Vesak, lay Buddhists of Ba Vang Pagoda diligently practiced the Buddha's teachings, sang Buddhist songs, and praised the Buddha's Birthday for days. It was these good deeds that have generated immense blessings and certainly influenced celestial and godly realms; as a result, the celebration could happen solemnly and sacredly. The devas and humans mentally merged; the venerable monks and guests all sensed and rejoiced in this miracle.”

Vesak Float Parade: A spectacular sight be behold

On the afternoon of May 21, 2023, the atmosphere became even more crowded and joyful as nearly 200 venerable monks, nuns, guests, and about 60,000 people from many countries in the world joined the float parade around the Pagoda.

The road went on with a huge stream of paraders in traditional costumes from many countries in the world, such as China, Thailand, India, Laos, Vietnam, etc. They joyfully sang along to songs with their hands raising flags and flowers and calling out Vesak slogans. 

Everyone was glowing with happiness on their faces, reenacting past scenes of people in Kapilavastu happily and delightedly welcoming Prince Siddhartha to life. 

Each illustrated float followed one after another, bearing significant meanings related to the Buddha's life, such as the image of dragons sprouting scented water to bathe the Prince, a white elephant with six tusks holding a white lotus flower in its trunk, etc., along with lotus-shaped floats supporting newborn Buddha statues.

Following each float were parading blocks: the angle-wing, the art performing group, the Yellow Chrysanthemum club, the Rahula club, the Youth club, the Buddhist club for Love – Marriage – Family, students of various universities, etc.

Other programs: Embellishing a picture full of emotion on Vesak Day

Besides the main programs, there was also “Vesak Celebration Mass Dance” praising the Buddha's birth 

“Joy for Buddha's birth 

Joy for preached Dharma

Joy for united Monks

Happy with harmony.”

or:

“All Buddhists in the world

Together parade,

Together sing and dance

To celebrate the Vesak Day.”

The jubilant, meaningful, and sincere singing of Buddhists contributes to spreading the spirit of international harmony and unity of Buddhism during Vesak 2023.

The “Lantern Passing - Offering to the Buddha” also touched the hearts of attendees. Monks and Buddhists offered lanterns to the Buddha - the Fully Enlightened One, with the aspiration to light up the lantern of his teachings, so that all beings can see that light and escape from suffering.

All of these meaningful programs really made the Grand Vesak Celebration 2023 at Ba Vang Pagoda become one of the festival spotlights during Vesak season this year.

What do domestic and foreign newspapers talk about the Grand Celebration of Vesak 2023 at Ba Vang Pagoda?

With many meaningful activities, the chain of Vesak 2023 events at Ba Vang Pagoda gained much acceptance both in Vietnam and abroad. Particularly, 23 articles and other posts in Thai's social media paid many compliments on the Grand Vesak Celebration at the Pagoda. 

In a reputable Thai newspaper - Siam Rath - has published an article “Over 60,000 people celebrating Vesak Day in Vietnam,” which stated: “The Grand Celebration of Vesak this year left a great impression on the international monks. It is a significant event showing the spirit of harmony among monks and unity in Buddhism. 

Vietnamese Buddhists attending this event welcomed the float parade of Buddha newborn statues all along 8-km sides of the street. Vietnamese people of all ages and genders happily witnessed the float parade of the honored venerables of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and from over 10 countries in the world.”

In addition, many Vietnamese newspapers and social media have also published articles on Vesak Day at Ba Vang Pagoda, such as Thanh Nien (Young People) Newspaper, Dai Bieu Nhan Dan (People's Deputies) Newspaper, Dai Doan Ket (Great Unity) Newspaper, To Quoc (National) Newspaper, Dan Tri Newspaper, etc.

These achievements were thanks to the instructions of Abbot Thich Truc Thai Minh, the direct support of Buddhist Pham Thi Yen – chairwoman of the Yellow Chrysanthemum Club, and the concerted efforts of myriads of Buddhists.

From this event, many people had a chance to rejoice in the birthday of the Fully Enlightened One, which will bring many merits and blessings to themselves and their families.

For upcoming events, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh as Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board and Chairperson of the Department of International Buddhism of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Binh Province, Chairperson of the Management Board of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Minh Hoa District, along with monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists of Ba Vang Pagoda will jointly organize and support a series of events celebrating Vesak in Quang Binh Province on June 2-4, 2023.