The biggest lantern festival lights up a corner of Ho Chi Minh City

From 6pm on May 9, thousands of people and Buddhists flocked to Phap Hoa Pagoda (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) to release flower lanterns and pray on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday. Traffic on Truong Sa and Hoang Sa streets, especially Le Van Sy Bridge, was partially congested.

Long lines of people lined up in front of the lantern release area from early morning.

After school, Thuc Di and Bao Ngoc (District 5) came to participate in the festival for the first time. "Luckily, this ceremony took place on the weekend, so we had the opportunity to attend and write prayers for luck and peace on the lanterns," Thuc Di said.

Before releasing the flower lanterns, monks, nuns, Buddhists and people holding flower lanterns stand and recite sutras and pray in the sacred moment of Buddha's birthday.

Unable to enter the temple, Thuy Quynh (left) and her friends stood outside, clasping their hands in prayer.

At nearly 7 p.m., the flower lantern releasing activity began. This year, Phap Hoa Pagoda distributed more than 6,000 flower lanterns for free to the people and had a volunteer team in charge of receiving flower lanterns from everyone to release into the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal.

This is a meaningful activity on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday, held in the fourth lunar month every year to commemorate the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni in the 7th century (BC).

Inside each petal are wishes. When the candle is lit, each person will pray for a kind and peaceful thought for themselves and everyone.

The rain suddenly poured down, many people still stood quietly on both sides of the canal to watch the sparkling lanterns drifting down the water.

The lantern-releasing ceremony is held by Phap Hoa Pagoda on Buddha's Birthday every year. This is considered the biggest lantern-releasing festival in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/le-hoi-tha-hoa-dang-lon-nhat-lam-bung-sang-mot-goc-tphcm-2399587.html