The provincial delegation congratulated the Executive Committee of Nghe An Buddhist Sangha on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday 2022

Attending the ceremony were Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu - Permanent Vice President of the Central Executive Council, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An province; Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem - Vice President of the Central Executive Council, Head of the Central Propagation Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Most Venerable Thich Hue Thong - Deputy General Secretary, Chief of Office 2 of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; and representatives of the leaders of the Religious Affairs Committee, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee led a delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front Committee to visit and congratulate the Executive Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Nghe An province. The delegation included Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province; leaders of departments, branches, and Vinh City.

Delegates from the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Religious Affairs Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Nghe An province attended the ceremony. Photo: Pham Bang

Art program to welcome the grand ceremony. Photo: Pham Bang

At the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu - Permanent Vice President of the Central Executive Council, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An provinceread the Buddha's Birthday Message 2022 - Buddhist calendar 2566 of the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang.

The message clearly states: This year's Buddha's birthday returns in a joyful atmosphere. After more than 2 years of the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing had to be implemented at different levels. At this time, Buddhists are further promoting the tradition of protecting the country and the people, accompanying the nation.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu - Permanent Vice President of the Central Executive Council, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An province read the Buddha's Birthday message, Buddhist calendar 2566, from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang.Photo: Pham Bang

Each monk and nun needs to uphold their responsibilities and fulfill their duties in the spirit of: Discipline - Responsibility - Solidarity - Development, making constant efforts to make Buddhism clear, build a strong church, continue to play an important role in the great national unity bloc, and be active in the cause of building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland.

Also at the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee read the Buddha's Birthday Speech 2022 - Buddhist calendar 2566 of the Most Venerable President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council.

Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee read the Buddha's Birthday Speech 2566. Photo: Pham Bang

The speech affirmed: "In the Buddhist year 2566, this year's Buddha's birthday returns in the common joy of the people of the whole country, before the Covid-19 epidemic is under control. Life returns to normal, the economy and society are on the path of rapid and sustainable recovery, cultural life and spiritual activities bring excitement and joy to everyone."

Speaking at the ceremony, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, on behalf of the provincial leaders, personally respectfully sent to the Venerables in the Council of Patronage, the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Nghe An province; monks, nuns, Buddhists, and all delegates wishes for good health, peace and many achievements in all religious and secular work.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that celebrating Buddha's birthday is an opportunity for Buddhists and those who love Buddhism to turn their hearts and minds to live according to Buddha's teachings, together contemplate the peaceful message of Buddha, promote knowledge - morality, and the spirit of compassion taught by Buddha. Carrying out the deeds of "benefiting religion - benefiting life", "giving joy - saving suffering" contributes to bringing peace, joy and happiness to all people.

This year's Buddha's Birthday comes to Buddhists in the joyful and excited atmosphere of the people of the whole country celebrating the 132nd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. More specifically, for Buddhists in the province, this year's Buddha's Birthday, the Provincial Buddhist Sangha organizes the 3rd Buddhist Congress, term 2022 - 2027, which is a festival of Venerables, monks and nuns and Buddhists in the province.

The provincial delegation presented flowers to congratulate the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the occasion of the 2022 Buddha's Birthday. Photo: Pham Bang

The head of the provincial People's Committee emphasized that after more than 10 years of construction and development, the Buddhist Sangha of Nghe An province has achieved many encouraging achievements; monks, nuns and Buddhists in the province have actively participated in patriotic emulation movements, charity, humanity, and prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing to promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc.

On behalf of the provincial leaders, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee happily informed the Venerables, monks, nuns, Buddhists, and all of you about some of the socio-economic situation of the province achieved in the past time and emphasized that the above results were thanks to the great efforts of the Party Committee, government and all the people, including the very important contributions of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee and Buddhists.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu - Permanent Vice President of the Central Executive Council, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An provinceperforming the Buddha bathing ritual during the ceremony. Photo: Pham Bang

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee performed the Buddha bathing ritual at the ceremony. Photo: Pham Bang

In the joy of welcoming the Buddha's birthday, on behalf of the provincial leaders, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee respectfully commended and congratulated the results of the activities of the provincial Buddhist Sangha for the cause of national unity, building and protecting the Fatherland. At the same time, he always believed that the Venerables, monks and nuns and Buddhist followers will continue to preserve and promote the tradition of "Protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people" and the good direction of activities of Vietnamese Buddhism, actively contributing to building the homeland and country to become more civilized and prosperous./.