Lanterns lit up magically in the fog on Ba Den Mountain, praying for peace

On the evening of May 8, delegates attending the 2025 Vesak Festival in Vietnam attended a flower lantern ceremony to pray for world peace on the top of Ba Den Mountain. This spiritual event was also attended by a large number of Buddhists and domestic and foreign tourists.

At around 7 p.m., the top of Ba Den Mountain was covered in fog, and the flower lantern ceremony to pray for peace began in a solemn atmosphere. Attending the ceremony were Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, President of the International Organizing Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV); leaders of ministries, branches and localities, and many delegates of the Vesak festival.

Ba Den Mountain is obscured in the fog on the evening of May 8. About 10,000 people went up the mountain last night, of which more than 5,000 attended the lantern festival.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Lighting up thousands of lanterns on Ba Den Mountain

In his opening speech, Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu shared that the flower lantern ceremony to pray for world peace is not only a symbolic spiritual activity, but also a voice of compassion, a deep prayer from the hearts of millions of people towards a world without war and hatred - where all living beings can live in understanding, love and harmony.

"Peace is not only the quietness outside but also the tranquility in each person's soul as the Buddha taught: compassion and wisdom are the path leading to peace from within spreading to the whole society. Each candle lit tonight is a flame of hope, the light of love, a message of goodwill and solidarity. From the top of Ba Den Mountain, that light will spread everywhere, beyond all borders to connect the hearts of peace-loving people around the world," said Venerable Elder Thich Thanh Nhieu.

About 1,300 delegates attending the Vesak festival from 85 countries and territories traveled to Ba Den Mountain to attend the festival along with many domestic delegates and tourists. PHOTO: NHAT THINH

The 2025 Vesak celebration concluded with the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration. In it, delegates pledged that global Buddhism would apply Buddhist wisdom, moral responsibility and collective action to bring about world peace, protect human dignity and maintain the well-being of this planet. PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Wishes are written on each lantern. PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

According to Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, President of ICDV, this realm includes 6 senses: eye sense, ear sense, nose sense, tongue sense, body sense, and mind sense (consciousness). Therefore, if we use these 6 senses to perceive, listen to, and feel phenomena as a paradise, a realm of peace and freedom, then we are bringing that realm into our lives.

"Peace of mind is the foundation of other peace including: environmental peace, economic peace... Among them, friendship is very important, as without international cooperation and friendship, there is no peace. The peace of friendship and peace has been most clearly demonstrated during the days of the Vesak 2025 festival", Venerable Phra Brahmapundit shared.

The 2025 Vesak celebration and its sideline activities have affirmed the role of Buddhism in strengthening solidarity, promoting peace, tolerance and sustainable development around the world. PHOTO: NHAT THINH