Vu Lan Festival celebrated at Bai Dinh Pagoda

Numerous activities have been carried out over recent days, including the Vu Lan Festival at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province on Monday. Thousands of Buddhists attended the event.

One of the important activities of the Vu Lan Festival is the rose-wearing ritual to pay respects to deceased mothers. More than 80 presents were also given to the Vietnamese heroic mothers attending the ceremony to express gratitude towards those who have contributed their lives to the country.

Doan Thi Le Hang, living in Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh Province, said: "As a Buddhist nun, I have no other wish than for the young generation to know about the merits of their families and learn from them. Many Buddhists participated at the requiem for deceased mothers, listening to stories about the significance of the tradition. The event is said to date back centuries".

Venerable Thich Minh Quang, Deputy Head of Managing Committees, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ninh Binh Province, said: "In Buddhist teachings, people have to show great gratitude to four types of people, including parents and teachers. We always teach the students to be respectful towards their elders, as well as to study and behave well. None of these are Buddhist beliefs, they’re Confucian".

Nowadays, the Vu Lan Festival is no longer a mere religious ceremony but has become a part of the national culture. Honouring fathers and mothers, worshiping ancestors, connecting people with people through kindness and love is tradition of the country.