Buddha's Birthday Celebration 2016 at Am Oc Pagoda

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of May 15th, Am Oc Pagoda (Quynh Luu district) held the Grand Buddha's Birthday Celebration for the Buddhist year 2560, Gregorian year 2016.

The event was attended by representatives of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Nghe An province, Quynh Luu district, and a large number of monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers in the area.

After three rounds of the Bát Nhã drum and bell procession celebrating the Buddha's birth, saluting the national flag and the Buddhist flag, and entering into a state of compassionate contemplation, Venerable Thích Minh Hải - Deputy Head of the Office of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Nghệ An Province - read the Buddha's Birthday message from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Association; Venerable Thích Quảng Văn read the Buddha's Birthday address of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Association.

Venerable monks and government representatives perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha.

The message for the 2560th anniversary of the Buddha's birth from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Association expresses the wish that all monks, nuns, and Buddhists in Vietnam, with the aspiration and responsibility of gratitude as children of Buddha, each take practical actions to protect the environment sustainably and respond to climate change.

At the same time, we hope that all monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers will follow the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, eliminating extremism, uniting in harmony for the benefit of the nation, and serving all sentient beings to have a peaceful and happy life. Through this, we call upon Buddhist followers, together with local authorities, to sincerely commemorate the great anniversaries of the nation; and to welcome the election of the 14th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 term.

At the ceremony, the management board of Am Oc Pagoda presented many gifts to families entitled to preferential policies and those who have rendered meritorious services to the country in the area.

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