'Don't confuse the Vu Lan festival with the Day of Atonement for Deceased Souls'

Every year in the seventh lunar month, during the Vu Lan Festival, children express their filial piety to their parents. However, many people often confuse the Vu Lan Festival with the Day of Atonement for Deceased Souls.

The origin of the Vu Lan festival

From a cultural research perspective, researcher Trinh Sinh stated that Vietnamese people often prepare a feast to offer to the spirits on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month ("Month of Atonement for Deceased Souls" or "Month of Hungry Ghosts") so that the spirits can find peace.

Furthermore, the Vu Lan Festival is a beautiful custom in Buddhist culture. He emphasized: "These two days are completely different in meaning; don't confuse the Vu Lan Festival with the Day of Atonement for Deceased Souls."

Accordingly, the Vu Lan festival originates from the story of Bodhisattva Mục Kiền Liên rescuing his mother. Mục Kiền Liên was one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, and his mother was Thanh Đề.

Cultural researcher Trinh Sinh (Photo: provided by the subject).

Legend has it that, during her lifetime, the mother of Bodhisattva Moggallana committed many evil deeds and offended the monks, so after death she was banished to hell as a hungry ghost.

Bodhisattva Maudgalyayana tried to save his mother but failed. The Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the Sangha on the full moon of the seventh month, and only through the merit of the numerous monks from all ten directions could he save his mother from suffering and torment in hell.

Following the Buddha's teachings, Mục Kiền Liên's mother was liberated. The Buddha also taught that all beings who wish to show filial piety to their parents should do so in this way (the Ullambana Festival). From that, the Ullambana Festival was born.

Accordingly, during the seventh lunar month each year, Buddhist followers organize offerings and present gifts to the Three Jewels to pray for the liberation of their ancestors' souls. This is a way to show filial piety to deceased family members.

The significance of the Vu Lan Festival

According to cultural researcher Trinh Sinh, the Vu Lan Festival is not only a day for Buddhists, but also a season of gratitude and filial piety for all children towards their parents who gave birth to and raised them. Furthermore, it is an occasion for people to reconnect with their roots.

On the Vu Lan Festival, those whose parents are still alive wear red flowers, while those whose parents have passed away wear red flowers. Then they wear white flowers. Photo: Vietnamnet

According to Buddhist teachings, there are many different ways to show respect and gratitude to one's parents.

On this day, Buddhists often perform offerings, prayers for the deceased, charitable acts, and release animals to accumulate merit, pray for peace, and hope for their parents to have increased blessings and longevity, and to resolve karmic obstacles.

During the Vu Lan festival, each person typically wears a rose on their clothing: red for those whose mothers are still alive and white for those whose mothers have passed away.

Those fortunate enough to wear a red rose on their lapel are reminded to strive to be obedient, filial, and respectful to their parents. Those wearing a white rose see it as a reminder never to forget their parents' kindness, and to maintain family traditions and harmonious relationships among siblings.

The custom of wearing red and white roses during the Vu Lan festival was initiated by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the 1960s to add cultural significance to this festival, especially to help children remember their parents, whether they are alive or deceased.

According to VNN