About 1,300 international delegates attend the United Nations Vesak Festival in Ho Chi Minh City

On the afternoon of May 2, at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the International Organizing Committee for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV) held the inauguration of the Press Center serving the Vesak Festival and a press conference to provide information about the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak held in Ho Chi Minh City.

The United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha from May 6-8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy II in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of Vietnam celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), and the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and General Secretary of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and also Vice President and General Secretary of the United Nations Vesak 2025 Organizing Committee in Vietnam, said that the main theme of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Celebration is “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development” with the participation of about 1,300 international delegates from 85 countries and territories; including many heads of state and leaders of countries around the world.

This year's ceremony was attended by about 1,500 domestic delegates, including dignitaries of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Central Committees, Ministries, and sectors, and southern provinces and cities, along with prominent Buddhists from the localities.

On the morning of May 6, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak began with the Opening Ceremony. This was followed by a presentation on the main theme of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak; the International Scientific Conference of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak took place on May 7 and the Closing Ceremony was held on the morning of May 8.

Dr. Tampalawela Dhammaratana, International Council for the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICDV) speaking at the press conference. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

Also in the 2025 United Nations Vesak Celebration program, activities will take place to honor and worship the Buddha Shakyamuni's relics at Thanh Tam Pagoda (Binh Chanh) from May 2 to May 8; honor and worship the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Viet Nam Quoc Tu (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) from May 3 to May 10.

According to Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, there will be Buddhist cultural activities such as the Great Ceremony to commemorate heroic martyrs on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, National Reunification and the International Lantern Festival to pray for national peace and world peace on the evening of May 6; International Buddhist art performance night at Sa La Theater, Thu Duc City on the evening of May 7; Buddhist cultural exhibition introducing 87 national treasures of Buddhism and Food Festival at Lang Le Park, Binh Chanh; Traditional Buddha bathing ceremony; Buddhist flag raising ceremony...

The Organizing Committee of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak affirmed that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha hosting the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak is an opportunity to introduce the image of the country and people of Vietnam who love peace, friendliness, solidarity and harmony; for international friends to witness Ho Chi Minh City as dynamic, creative, prosperous and thriving after 50 years of national reunification and Vietnam integrating, developing and reaching out to the world in the new era.

Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, informed about Buddhist cultural and artistic activities within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

The 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak held at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City is also an opportunity to affirm to the international community the consistent policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion of the Party and State of Vietnam; the reality of religious freedom in Vietnam; and the achievements that the religious community in Vietnam has achieved after 50 years of national reunification.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha organizes the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 to affirm to the international community the role and position of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the world Buddhist community. Through the program content, scientific seminars, cultural and social activities of the Festival, international friends will have a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism over more than 2,000 years of accompanying the nation.

The unique spirit of engagement of Vietnamese Buddhism, the great contributions of Buddhism in the cause of nation building and defense, and the achievement of national unification are shown through the image of the immortal heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, which is enshrined and worshiped at this year's Vesak Festival.

At the same time, this year's United Nations Day of Vesak is a very active activity of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in implementing the people's foreign policy, contributing to enhancing understanding, exchange, and friendly cooperation between the Vietnamese people and international friends; thereby affirming Vietnam's position and responsibility towards the United Nations, the international community in the region and the world.

The Ho Chi Minh City Vesak Declaration will be Vietnam's contribution to the mission of fulfilling the United Nations millennium goals for peace and sustainable development./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/khoang-1300-dai-bieu-quoc-te-du-dai-le-vesak-lien-hop-quoc-o-tp-ho-chi-minh-post1036305.vnp