Vesak 2023 - an impressive and meaningful religious festival in the world
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Vesak Festival - the most awaited Buddhist event of the year is around the corner. On this occasion, Buddhists worldwide hoist Buddhist flags, sing songs praising the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and widely spread their happiness and meaningful messages to everyone.
With an increasingly large scale of celebration, Vesak 2023 is expected to bring new and interesting experiences you should not miss!
1. What is Vesak and when is it celebrated?
According to the United Nations, Vesak Day commemorates three great events in the Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment, and death (entering nirvana). The date for Vesak Day comes from the Buddha's birthday, which falls on the full moon of the fourth lunar month.
In 1950, the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) passed a resolution which recognized the fifteenth of the fourth lunar month each year as the official day to celebrate Vesak. In the solar calendar, this day usually falls around May. However, Vesak festival can last one week or even a month in some other places.
Let's raise Buddhist flags to welcome the Vesak Celebration!
2. The meaning of Vesak Day
The appearance of the Buddha in this world is extremely rare. It is much rarer than the Udumbara flower blooming once every thousand years. He was the one who embarked on a long 49-year journey to propagate the Dharma and illuminate the truth for sentient beings. Thus, we celebrate Vesak Day to commemorate significant milestones in the Buddha's life, praise his merits and virtue.
This is also a day to propagate the Buddha Dharma. Thanks to this festival, numerous people get to know Buddhism. Even if just a bit of compliment and joy arise in one's mind when browsing the internet or passing by the festival, he or she can receive blessings now or in the future and form a connection with Buddha Dharma, which enables them to approach the truth, reach liberation, and end suffering, as Buddhism is the path to save sentient beings from suffering.
Therefore, as Vesak draws near, let's spread the spirit and meaningful messages of the celebration to everyone!
Capture joyful and memorable moments during Vesak Festival!
3. How is Vesak Day celebrated?
Every year, on the fourth lunar month, Buddhists worldwide eagerly prepare to celebrate Vesak Day. They do good deeds according to Buddha's teachings, such as observing Buddhist precepts, organizing charitable activities, etc.
On the day of the festival, a lively and bustling yet sacred atmosphere seems to spread to all. The festive and spiritual activities are held spectacularly and variedly, with notable events such as the Buddha bathing ceremony and flower parade. All of those contribute to preserving and promoting Buddhist cultural traditions.
A float parade at Ba Vang Pagoda, Vietnam - a spectacular sight to behold on Vesak Day
Recently, Vesak Day has increasingly gained acceptance in Vietnam and received much attention from government officials and people. Its large scale of celebration with impressive religious activities has attracted not only domestic people but also international tourists to explore and experience.
You can attend the Grand Celebration of Vesak at Ba Vang Pagoda in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, one of the country's most prominent places to celebrate Buddhist festivals. Here, under the guidance of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, the abbot, Ba Vang Pagoda organizes a series of activities to commemorate the Buddha Day, such as releasing animals, doing charity work, or donating blood. From these activities, many people get closer to Buddhism, thus later practicing the Buddha's teachings and enjoying peace and happiness.
Crowded, vibrant, emotional - that is what you might feel when joining Vesak Day at Ba Vang Pagoda
As Vesak Day comes, myriads of Buddhists and people at home and abroad all gather at Ba Vang Pagoda. Buddhist flags are hoisted and everyone sings Vesak songs such as “Joy for the Buddha's Birth” and “Buddhism brings peace to the world”, etc., to share joy and happiness with each other.
Lay Buddhists also vow to observe Buddhist precepts and pray for their families to be safe and for their country to be peaceful and prosperous.
When participating in the grand festival, you will also engage with the sacred and serene atmosphere of the Vesak rituals such as sutra chanting and the Buddha bathing ceremony.
Bathing the Buddha brings blessings and peace to the offerers. In addition, it also represents the wish to purify one's mind so that wisdom will arise and the inner Buddha in each of us will be born.
This year, the Grand Celebration of Vesak at Ba Vang Pagoda will take place on May 20-21, 2023 (2nd-3rd of the fourth lunar month), and is expected to bring you impressive and unforgettable experiences.
We hope you will have the opportunity to participate and fully enjoy the joy throughout the festival at the Pagoda.
