Tan Hiep - Hoc Mon - Ho Chi Minh
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Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony at Nhat Phap Pagoda –Dong Nai province.
Update: 21/05/2014
Again, on-coming Udumbara flowers and fragrant lotuses in bloom had signaled a joyful, peaceful Buddha’s Birth season everywhere. In harmony with that atmosphere were billions of people on earth generally; million millions of Buddhists particularly, which all were happy, delighted at the Buddha’s Birth - welcoming the supernatural Master of all creatures - Sakyamuni.
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By that pleasure, on Saturday night, 10th of May 2014\r\n(lunar Horse Year, 12th, April) Ven. Thich Tam Danh is the Abbot of Nhat Phap\r\npagoda (Hoang Phap pagoda branch) at Hung Loc ward, Thong Nhat District Dong\r\nNai province. He held a solemn Vesak (Buddhist calendar 2558-solar calendar\r\n2014) with the present of Ven. Thich Tam Tung, Nun Thich Chon Hien and Nun\r\nThich Chon Dat. With the participation of all female, male Buddhists, local\r\ncitizens and the youth in student volunteer club named “Lotus Fragrant†in Ho\r\nChi Minh city, which made the ceremony meaningful.
\r\n\r\nAt 7pm, Prajnas drum roll sounded while Buddhists were standing\r\nsolemnly in two lines to welcome respectfully all the honored Zen Masters,\r\nMonks and Nuns coming to pray for blessings. After the issue of reasons was the\r\nflower offering performed by the children of Buddhist families at Nhat Phap\r\nPagoda to commemorate deep gratitude of the elder Venerable, pure-living Monks\r\nand Nuns who devoted their lives for Buddhism for propagating of faith and for\r\nbringing happy lives.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNext, on behalf of The Organization Board Ven. Thich Tam\r\nTung proclaimed inaugural ceremony.
\r\n\r\nThe ceremony became more and more significant as The Abbot\r\nVenerable pleasantly made a speech about the meaning of Vesak, the life and\r\nenlightening way of Buddha - a kind Father- Sakyamuni for all participants in order\r\nto build a strong belief for Buddhists. Since then, they could make a progress\r\non learning Dharma.
\r\n\r\nIn the sacred moment, all the honored Masters and\r\nparticipants held hands as a lotus bulb and knelt down in front of the Buddha\r\nStatue respectfully offering incense to the Buddha.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFollowing was the ceremony of bathing the Baby Buddha. All\r\nheld their hands to pray for the world peace, the nation prosperousity, happy\r\nfamilies, beings with dharma covering, all in merit and pleasure
To change the ceremony rituals, there were several\r\nmusic performances inserted to celebrate the Vesak Day including the songs\r\n“Praising the Enlightened Masterâ€, “Longing for the Masterâ€, “Welcome the\r\nBuddha’s Birthdayâ€, and dancing performance of “My Pagoda†by solo singer-Tinh\r\nDu, the duo singers - Lien May and Tinh Dung, Huong Sen group singers and Huong\r\nSen dance group .\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe ceremony ended with pleasure. Before leaving, all were\r\nserved with pasta, vegetarian dumplings, soymilk and fruits prepared by the\r\npagoda volunteers. People were elated and went home with soft drinks given by\r\norganizer.
\r\n\r\nHere are some recorded pictures:
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Translated by Thai Nhuoc Don.