The Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee organizes the 2024 Buddha's Birthday celebration

On the morning of May 22, at the headquarters of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha, Thanh Long Pagoda, Ky Ba Ward (Thai Binh City), the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee held the Buddha's birthday celebration, Buddhist calendar 2568, solar calendar 2024.

Comrade Nguyen Quang Hung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee presented flowers to congratulate the Buddha's birthday.

Attending the ceremony were comrade Nguyen Quang Hung, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front Committee.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Hoa, Head of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee, read the Buddha's birthday message of Buddhist calendar 2568 from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

At the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Hoa, member of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, read the Buddha's birthday message of the Buddhist calendar 2568 of the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The message emphasized the respect and efforts to practice the precious teachings of the Buddha in building a peaceful, humane and ethical world. He called on monks, nuns and Buddhists to pray for the war to end, hatred to disappear, to practice diligently, to spread love and solidarity, to live altruistically with all humanity, to build a peaceful and happy world. Contributing to the development of Buddhism in the country, the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has actively encouraged dignitaries, monks, nuns, Buddhists and people to well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, to preserve and promote the nation's fine traditions, ethics and culture. Buddhist activities are stable and orderly, places of worship are invested in and built more and more spaciously to meet the living needs of Buddhist followers and local people. Actively and effectively participating in patriotic emulation movements, social activities, humanitarian charity, economic development, building houses of gratitude, maintaining social security and order, building cultural life in residential areas to join hands in building new rural areas. In 2023, dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists in the province donated to build 15 houses of gratitude and many humanitarian charity activities with a total cost of more than 8 billion VND. The whole province has 545 pagodas recognized as "4-model pagodas" in the period of 2018 - 2023, of which, 243 pagodas have achieved the title of "4-model pagodas" for 5 consecutive years, many collectives and individuals have been commended and rewarded by all levels...

Speaking at the ceremony, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee sent his best wishes to the monks, nuns, and all Buddhists in the province. He emphasized that throughout the history of the nation, Buddhism has always demonstrated the spirit of charity, harmony, "protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people", building a great national unity bloc, acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists to the socio-economic development of the province in recent times, together with the people to build the country to become more civilized and prosperous.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that in the coming time, the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee and districts and cities actively propagate and mobilize monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers to comply with the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on beliefs and religions, and participate in patriotic emulation movements in the locality. Actively coordinate with authorities at all levels, departments, and functional branches of the province in organizing religious activities in accordance with the law. Continue to promote the fine traditions of Buddhist culture, pay attention to building a strong Buddhist Sangha of Thai Binh province, promoting goodness, eliminating superstition and heresy, protecting fine customs and traditions, preserving and promoting national cultural identity, building and consolidating a contingent of intelligent and virtuous monks and nuns, complying with the provisions of the law in Buddhist activities, especially regarding land and construction related to religion. Actively coordinate with relevant agencies, actively overcome limitations and shortcomings, put Buddhist activities of churches at all levels into order, and ensure compliance with legal and church regulations.

At the ceremony, provincial leaders presented flowers to congratulate the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee; and together with dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists participated in incense burning, Buddha bathing, and traditional rituals, praying for national peace and prosperity, the longevity of Buddhism, and the happiness of all living beings.

Some pictures at the Buddha's birthday celebration in 2024:

Provincial leaders and leaders of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee performed the incense offering ceremony to Buddha. Comrade Nguyen Quang Hung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, performed the Buddha bathing ritual.