Mooncakes, lanterns, and so much more joy and unforgettable memories to behold at the Mid-Autumn night celebration at Ba Vang Pagoda!
The eagerly awaited “Mid-Autumn celebration: The Moon and children 2025” has been held in the warm presence of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, our beloved master, the Sangha, and Buddhist families. Ba Vang Pagoda shone so bright under the luminous full moon, its courtyards lit up by colorful lanterns. The beautiful fruit trays were meticulously arranged with mooncakes and adorable animal-shaped fruits.
Everyone gathered at the Pagoda, blending themselves into lively performances with familiar mid-autumn songs, lion dance, interesting Buddhist storytelling, sharing a joyous lantern parade together around the precinct of the Pagoda, and the most-awaited part, the Mid-Autumn “feast”.
The celebration was made even more meaningful and heart-warming as Thay and the monks presented gifts to the excellent students of the Rahula Club who finished outstanding Buddhist ethics homework, as well as those exceptional students facing special conditions.
Besides the joyful moments, everyone has received heartfelt teachings from Thay, reminding everyone, particularly the kids and youth, to be grateful for what the Buddhist aunties and uncles have so beautifully prepared for them this night. Thay also urged the kids and youngsters to study hard, becoming good children, good students, and good citizens—those who bring happiness and benefits to the nation and the world.
The celebration ended with so many beautiful moments; everyone was happy, and also left with grateful hearts to Thay, the Sangha, and the Buddhists.
Thay was delighted to watch the program's performances
The Mid-Autumn food tray featuring adorable animal-shaped fruits was skillfully prepared by lay Buddhists at Ba Vang Pagoda
A high-energy performance with the lion dance brought great excitement to the program
The young children enjoyed a Mid-Autumn night that was both happy and meaningful
Let us relive childhood memories together with performances featuring fairy tale characters such as Tang Sanzang and his disciples (from the famous film “Journey to the West”), the God of the Earth, and King Lang Lieu—a Vietnamese historical figure closely associated with the traditional bánh chung (square sticky rice cake) and banh day (round sticky rice cake)
Minh Sang and Ngoc Huyen, two kids of the Rahula club, confidently told the story about how the Buddha taught Venerable Rahula, during the special night
The scene described a time at the Veluvana Bamboo Grove, outside the city of Rajagaha, when many officials, elders, and lay practitioners came to ask where the Buddha was preaching in order to visit. Rahula would often misdirect them. If the Buddha was at the Bamboo Grove Monastery, Rahula would say he was at Vulture Peak (Gijjhakūṭa), and conversely, if the Buddha was at Vulture Peak, Rahula would point to the Bamboo Grove. These two places were about five miles apart
The scene also described Rahula, who, after being instructed by the Buddha on the consequences of not upholding moral precepts, diligently practiced and gradually eliminated unwholesome actions
On the program, Thay and the monks kindly presented meaningful gifts to the children who had excellently completed their Buddhist moral homework and to those with special conditions
The Rahula kids joined the lantern parade with Thay
The Mid-Autumn lantern parade was so much fun!
Thay gave candies to kids
Monks gave candies and cakes to kids
Happy Mid-Autumn Day!
