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Vietnamese Buddhists join world in observance of Vesak Day

Vietnamese Buddhists join world in observance of Vesak Day

Thursday, May 11, 2017, 12:30 GMT+7

A grand ceremony to observe Vesak Day, also known as Buddha’s Birthday, was held at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

Vesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, a religious figure recognized by Buddhists as a teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering, and on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.

Thousands of Buddhists and local officials attended the ceremony, which began early Wednesday morning and continued into the evening with a series of rituals and activities celebrating the year 2561 in the Buddhist calendar.

The Venerable Thich Tri Quang, head of affairs at the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam, called for Vietnamese Buddhists to contribute to the continued development of the Sangha in the context of Vietnam’s reforms and international integration.

Local officials, including former Ho Chi Minh City Party chief Le Thanh Hai and standing deputy Party chief Vo Thi Dung, participated in a ritual pigeon-release to wish for a Buddhist year of peace and prosperity across the country.

Here are some photos from Vesak Day celebrations in Vietnam and around the world.

Đại lễ Phật đản ở Việt Nam Quốc tự - TP.HCM

Vo Thi Dung (R), deputy Party chief of Ho Chi Minh City, presents the local chapter of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam with a wreath during Vesak Day at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, May 10, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Đại lễ Phật đản ở Việt Nam Quốc tự - TP.HCM

Monks and Buddhists attend Vesak Day at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, May 10, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Đại lễ Phật đản ở Việt Nam Quốc tự - TP.HCM

A children’s dance performance during Vesak Day at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, May 10, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Buddhists carry a Child Buddha statue on the shrine while celebrating the Vesak Day in Quan Su Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam. REUTERS/Kham

Buddhists carry a Child Buddha statue on the shrine while celebrating the Vesak Day in Quan Su Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Reuters

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Picture taken using long exposure. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Buddhist monks prostrate as they perform the "three steps one bow" ceremony at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on the eve of Vesak Day in Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Buddhist monks prostrate as they perform the "three steps one bow" ceremony at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on the eve of Vesak Day in Singapore. Photo: Reuters

Buddhists carry candles while encircling a large Buddha statue during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Picture taken using long exposure. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Buddhists carry candles while encircling a large Buddha statue during Vesak Dayat a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Photo: Reuters

Novice nuns and buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Novice nuns and buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

A man fixes an image of a Buddha on top of a pandal, a temporary platform to be decorated with illuminated panels illustrating episodes from the life of Buddha, ahead of Vesak Day celebrations, during which Sri Lankan Buddhists commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha in Colombo, Sri Lanka. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

A man fixes an image of a Buddha on top of a pandal, a temporary platform to be decorated with illuminated panels illustrating episodes from the life of Buddha, ahead of Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Photo: Reuters

A girl offers prayers inside a Buddhist temple on the occasion of Buddha Purnima festival, also known as Vesak Day, in Agartala, India. REUTERS/Jayanta Dey

A girl offers prayers inside a Buddhist temple on the occasion of Buddha Purnima festival, also known as Vesak Day, in Agartala, India. Photo: Reuters

A devotee (unseen) sprinkles rice grains as part of the rituals on the idol of Buddha during the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day, at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee (unseen) sprinkles rice grains as part of the rituals on the idol of Buddha during Vesak Day at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Reuters

People walk around a stupa, at the top of the Wat Saket, or Golden Mount, during the Buddhist Vesak celebration in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

People walk around a stupa, at the top of the Wat Saket, or Golden Mount, during the Buddhist Vesak celebration in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Picture taken using long exposure. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Hindu devotees take a holy dip in the Ganges river on the occasion of Buddha purnima festival, also known as Vesak day, in Allahabad, India. REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash

Hindu devotees take a holy dip in the Ganges river on the occasion of Buddha purnima festival, also known as Vesak day, in Allahabad, India. Photo: Reuters

A devotee prays in front of a Buddha statue during the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day in Colombo, Sri Lanka. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

A devotee prays in front of a Buddha statue during the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Photo: Reuters

A devotee offers butter lamps on the eve of the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day, at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee offers butter lamps on the eve of the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day, at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Reuters

A family takes a seflie as they visit the Shwedagon Pagoda during Kason Watering Festival celebrations, also know as Vesak Day, in Yangon, Myanmar. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A family takes a seflie as they visit the Shwedagon Pagoda during Kason Watering Festival celebrations, also know as Vesak Day, in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: Reuters

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Picture taken using long exposure. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Buddhist monks perform the "three steps one bow" ceremony at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on the eve of Vesak Day in Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Buddhist monks perform the "three steps one bow" ceremony at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on the eve of Vesak Day in Singapore. Photo: Reuters

A devotee offers prayer on the idol of Buddha during the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day, at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

A devotee offers prayer on the idol of Buddha during the birth anniversary of Buddha, also known as Vesak Day, at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Reuters

Buddhists carry candles while encircling a large Buddha statue during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, at a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Picture taken using long exposure. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Buddhists carry candles while encircling a large Buddha statue during Vesak Day at a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Photo: Reuters

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