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Thousands join lantern floating ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City for Vesak Day

Thousands join lantern floating ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City for Vesak Day

Monday, May 20, 2024, 20:35 GMT+7
Thousands join lantern floating ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City for Vesak Day
Thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists, and local residents gathered around Phap Hoa Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, 2024 to join a lantern floating ceremony in celebration of Vesak Day, or Buddha's Birthday on the full-moon day of the fourth lunar month, falling on May 22 this year. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists, and local residents gathered around Phap Hoa Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday evening to release lotus-shaped lanterns onto the water in the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal in celebration of Vesak Day, or Buddha's Birthday on the full-moon day of the fourth lunar month, falling on May 22 this year.

Buddha’s Birthday is an important annual Buddhist event, bringing together monks, nuns, and Buddhists to pray for world peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Happiness and perfection were chosen as the main themes of this year’s event, with the aim of encouraging people to follow the teachings of the Buddha and to build a happy life, a happy family, and a happy society.

In commemoration of the 2,568th birthday of the Buddha and 61 years of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, Phap Hoa Pagoda, located in District 3, hosted the lantern floating ceremony featuring nearly 10,000 water lanterns.

Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation took place on June 11, 1963.

On that day, when a procession of over 800 Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers arrived at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung Boulevard and Le Van Duyet Street, now known as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, respectively, in District 3, Thich Quang Duc soaked himself in petrol, struck a match, and set himself on fire.

His self-annihilation was aimed at protesting against the repression of Buddhists by the American-supported Saigon government, led by then-President Ngo Dinh Diem.

The lantern floating ceremony takes place annually in celebration of Vesak Day to pray for peace and prosperity for Vietnam and its people.

A large number of people flock to Phap Hoa Pagoda since 5:00 pm on May 19, 2024 to take part in bathing Buddha statues. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

A large number of people flocked to Phap Hoa Pagoda in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City since 5:00 pm on May 19, 2024 to take part in bathing Buddha statues. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Anh Thu (L) and her friend from District 10, Ho Chi Minh City come to the Phap Hoa Pagoda area early to find a perfect spot for releasing water lanterns. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Anh Thu (L) and her friend from District 10, Ho Chi Minh City came to the Phap Hoa Pagoda area early to find a perfect spot for releasing water lanterns. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony takes place annually in celebration of Vesak Day to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country and its people. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony takes place annually in celebration of Vesak Day to pray for peace and prosperity for Vietnam and its people. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony takes place annually in celebration of Vesak Day to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country and its people. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony takes place annually in celebration of Vesak Day to pray for peace and prosperity for Vietnam and its people. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony started at 6:30 pm on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The lantern floating ceremony started at 6:30 pm on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Volunteers assist local residents with releasing lanterns into the water. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Volunteers assist local residents in releasing lanterns into the water. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Lots of residents gather along the Le Van Sy Bridge, Truong Sa Street, Hoang Sa Street to take part in the lantern floating ceremony held in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Lots of residents gathered along the Le Van Sy Bridge, Truong Sa Street, Hoang Sa Street to take part in the lantern floating ceremony held in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Lots of residents gather along the Le Van Sy Bridge, Truong Sa Street, Hoang Sa Street to take part in the lantern floating ceremony held in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Lots of residents gathered along the Le Van Sy Bridge, Truong Sa Street, Hoang Sa Street to take part in the lantern floating ceremony held in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

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