Ha Nam: Opening a series of Cultural events to welcome the UN Vesak Celebration 2019

On May 10, 2019, International Organizing Committee (IOC) of the United Nations Day of Vesak (UIDV) Celebration 2019 in conjunction with the Culture Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) organized the opening ceremony of a series of Buddhist cultural events in the Square of Sutra Pillars, Guan Yin Shrine and Tam Chuc Lake, Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ba Sao Commune, Kim Bang District, Ha Nam Province.

Giving blessing to and attending the program are His Holiness Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, President of the Executive Council of VBS, President of the IOC of UIDV Celebration 2019; Most Venerable Thich Hue Thong, Deputy General Secretary of VBS, Deputy General Secretary of UIDV; Most Venerable Thich Tan Dat, Member of the Secretariat of the Executive Committee, Standing Deputy Head of the Culture Department; Ven. Thich Tho Lac, Member of the Secretariat of the Executive Committee, Acting Head of the Culture Department of VBS, Deputy General Secretary of UNDV; Most Venerable Thich Hai An, Standing Member of the Executive Council, Rector of Vietnam Buddhist University in Hue; Most Venerable Thich Buu Chanh, Standing Member of the Executive Committee, Standing Deputy Head of the Cultur Department; Venerable Dr. Thich Nhat Tu, Member of the Executive Council, Deputy Head of the Department of International Buddhist Affair of VBS, Deputy General Secretary of the UNDV 2019.

On the side of the local government, there were the presence of Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority and Religion Affairs of Vietnam Fatherland Front; Mr. Bui Quang Cam, Vice President of Ha Nam Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Le Xuan Huy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism together with the organizing committee of the UN Vesak Celebration 2019, the Central Committee of Cultural Affairs of the VBS, monks and nuns, delegates, Buddhists, and reporters of the media.

TT. Thich Minh Dang, Chief Secretary of the Culture Department coordinates the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The UNDV 2019 for the third time held in Vietnam, is a great event of international stature with more than 10,000 people attending the Celebration, including 1,600 dignitaries and leaders of Buddhist Sanghas and sects, professors, doctors, researchers, Buddhist scholars as well as Buddhist practitioners of many Buddhist traditions from about 115 countries and territories around the world and 20,000 Buddhists and Vietnamese people.

With this important influence, the Organizing Committee has executed many meaningful programs to celebrate the great ceremony with a series of special cultural events such as: Exhibition of Vietnam and World Buddhist Culture; Exhibition of Buddhist arts; Exhibition of documentary photos of Vietnamese Buddhism; Vietnamese Buddhist folk music; Exhibition of Buddhist cultural products; Vegetarian food fair; Exhibition of Buddhist and ethnic stone art; Ceremony of lighting seven large lotuses on Tam Chuc Lake and Buddhist cultural gifts.

Opening the ceremony, Ven. Thich Tho Lac, Member of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, Acting Head of the Culture Department of VBS, Deputy General Secretary of the UNDV 2019 delivered the opening speech on behalf of the organizing committee. He emphasized: "The Vietnam and World Buddhist Art Exhibition is one of the cultural aspects of the UNDV Celebration 2019. This is an opportunity to spread the message and values ​​of compassion, peace, non-violence, generosity and wisdom of the Buddha all over the world.

Most Venerable Thich Hai An, Standing Member of the Executive Council, Director of the Vietnam Buddhist University in Hue, declared the meaning of the ceremony of lighting flowers. He said: "Each flower post is lit in the night in order to honor the spiritual and cultural values ​​of the Vietnamese people. Each flower lantern is kindled, each one prays on it with a benevolent mind, a peaceful mind for themselves and others. Each lamp is a light to erase all sufferings, to build a beautiful, prosperous and democratic country towards a democratic, fair, civilized and modern society. We pray for the Buddha's message of compassion, wisdom, selflessness, and altruism always illuminate the world so that people can be peaceful and happy.”

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, President of the Executive Council, President of the IOC of the UNDV 2019, has delivered a speech. He affirmed: "In the exhibition areas, all unique artworks of cultural and spiritual values are an opportunity for domestic and international visitors to better understand Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese Buddhist culture. Accordingly, Vietnamese and World artists, photographers, artisans and collectors create vision about the Buddha's teachings which are becoming more and more universal and shining”.

Ven. Thich Tri Chon, Standing Deputy Head of Culture Department of the VBS gave vote of thanks on behalf of the Organizing Committee.

At the end of the program, the Venerables of the Organizing Committee performed a blessing ceremony to light flowers and pray for the Celebration to be successfully fulfilled. After that, the Venerables are guided to visit the exhibition grounds, the Fair of cultural products, the Vegetarian food fair and the Ritual platforms.

Below are some photos at the exhibitions:

Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019
Hà Nam: Khai mạc chuỗi sự kiện Văn hóa chào mừng Đại lễ Vesak LHQ 2019