Phuc Thanh Pagoda organizes the Vu Lan filial piety ceremony and casts a large bronze bell.

(Baonghean.vn) -On August 14th, at Phuc Thanh Pagoda (Hung Chau commune, Hung Nguyen district), a ceremony was held to celebrate the casting of a large bronze bell and the Vu Lan filial piety festival, Buddhist calendar 2557 – Gregorian calendar 2013.

The event was attended by representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Nghe An province, leaders of the Hung Nguyen district Party Committee, People's Committee, and various departments and organizations of Hung Nguyen district, along with venerable monks and hundreds of Buddhists from all over the province.

The Vu Lan Festival (a Buddhist festival honoring parents) at Phuc Thanh Pagoda.

Phuc Thanh Pagoda (Tinh Son Temple) was built during the Tran Dynasty. In 2011, the pagoda was restored according to Decision No. 5333/QD-UBND of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province. In 2012, the pagoda was officially established with a head monk according to Decision No. 04/QD-BTS of the Buddhist Association of Nghe An Province. After its restoration, the pagoda has organized activities for thousands of Buddhists to participate in at the pagoda and charitable activities in the province.

Following the Vu Lan festival, a time for showing filial piety with the ritual of "pinning a rose on one's lapel" to express gratitude for the merits of ancestors, grandparents, and parents, the Venerable monks and Buddhist followers performed a ceremony to bless and pour molten bronze to cast a large temple bell weighing approximately 400 kg. In addition, the temple also held activities such as prayers for the souls of fallen heroes and martyrs, alms-giving to wandering souls, and the awarding of scholarships totaling 70 million VND and bicycles to 20 underprivileged but academically优秀 students.

Text and photos: Minh Quân