The 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will take place from May 6-8 (April 9-11 of the lunar calendar). The series of activities during the festival such as welcoming the Buddha's relics from India to Vietnam, bringing the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to worship forever at the Vietnam National Pagoda... are of interest and are awaited by the people and Buddhists.
On April 22, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President, General Secretary of the Executive Council, Vice President, General Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Great Festival, shared with the press about the special highlights of the 2025 United Nations Vesak event hosted by Vietnam.
Religious festival for peace
- Could you please tell us the meaning of the United Nations Vesak Festival and especially this year's event hosted by Vietnam?
Venerable Thich Duc Thien: The United Nations Vesak Celebration is a cultural activity of the United Nations, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni, and is a cultural and religious festival for peace. Since 2000, the United Nations Vesak Celebration has been held 19 times at the United Nations Headquarters and in countries around the world.
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh meets with ministries, sectors and units to review work related to the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak. (Photo: Chu Thanh Van/VNA)
Vietnam has successfully hosted and organized three United Nations Vesak celebrations in 2008 with 87 countries participating at the My Dinh National Convention Center, Hanoi; 2014 with 95 countries participating at Bai Dinh Pagoda, Ninh Binh Province; and 2019 with 112 countries participating at Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam Province.
The 20th United Nations Day of Vesak this year, with delegations from 80 countries and 5 territories participating, was hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of Vietnam celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), and the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).
This will be an extremely meaningful international cultural diplomacy event of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and our country in 2025.
Spiritually, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak is an opportunity for Buddhists around the world to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni, and to strengthen solidarity with friends from all over the world. The festival is also an opportunity to introduce the good values of Buddhism, contributing to building a world of peace, happiness and friendship.
Culturally, this is an opportunity to exchange and learn the cultural quintessence of other countries; raise awareness of preserving and promoting the values of world cultural heritage, including world and national Buddhist cultural heritages.
In terms of diplomacy, the results of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will bring international friends an understanding of Vietnam's history, culture, and religion. Enhance understanding, exchange, and close friendly cooperation between the Vietnamese people and all international friends around the world. Affirm Vietnam's position and responsibility towards the United Nations, the international community in the region and the world.
In terms of ethics, in an era where the economy, science and technology are constantly developing to meet the increasing demands of society, the increasing material pressure weighs heavily on the spiritual life of each individual. Therefore, people have the need to find the traditional ethical standards of the nation. In that context, Buddhist ethics has an important meaning in fostering a healthy spiritual life for people.
Economically, the event contributes positively to the development of tourism and economic investment in Vietnam, making Vietnam a destination for international tourists.
Academically, the results of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival will bring international friends an understanding of Vietnam's history, culture, and religion. Enhance understanding, exchange, and close friendly cooperation between the Vietnamese people and all international friends around the world. Affirm Vietnam's position and responsibility towards the United Nations, the international community in the region and the world.
Vesak 2025: Receiving blessings from Buddha at the legendary sacred peak. (Photo: VNA)
- The main theme of this year's Great Festival is "Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development." Could you please explain more about this message?
Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien: The main theme of the ceremony follows the issues that the United Nations wishes to promote during this period. That is peace, sustainable development - the millennium goals.
As the host country, Vietnam proposed to include the element of “solidarity and tolerance” in the theme so that international friends can see the great achievements of the country after 50 years of unification, entering a new era thanks to the strength of national solidarity throughout history. Tolerance, forgiveness, love, “the whole leaves cover the torn leaves” are beautiful cultural traits of the Vietnamese people. Through this, Vietnam sends a message of loving peace, wanting to be friends with countries around the world and is in fact a strategic partner of many countries.
In addition to the main theme, the Great Festival also has seminars divided into 5 sub-themes: Nurturing inner peace for world peace, Forgiveness and healing through mindfulness: The path of reconciliation, Buddhist compassion in action: Shared responsibility for human development, Mindfulness in education for a compassionate and sustainable future, Promoting solidarity: Collaborative efforts for global harmony.
These topics received great attention from delegates, experts, and scholars. The Organizing Committee received 620 papers in English, and 330 papers in Vietnamese.
Welcoming delegates from over 80 countries
- People and Buddhists are very interested in worshiping the Buddha's relics from India and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc. Could you please tell us more about the process of welcoming these two treasures?
Venerable Thich Duc Thien: Regarding the Buddha's relics, these are the National Treasures of India, so when they go abroad, the Indian Government considers them as a visit by a head of state. To welcome the Buddha's relics, on December 31, 2024, the Vietnamese Government and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, allowing the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to welcome the Buddha's relics to Vietnam.
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha held a press conference on the Vesak Festival. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)
After a process of negotiation, cultural exchange, and diplomatic exchange between the two countries' foreign ministries, the Indian Government has now agreed.
Currently, an advance delegation from India, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture, archeological experts, and leaders of the National Museum of India, is in Vietnam (since April 18) to conduct an advance inspection of the places where Vietnam plans to enshrine the Buddha's relics. They are very concerned about the temperature, humidity, security, and safety of the Buddha's relics.
Regarding the schedule for the procession of Buddha's relics, it is expected that Buddha's relics will arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport on May 2 by an Indian military aircraft, escorted by the Indian Minister of Defense.
Then the procession will be brought to Thanh Tam Pagoda, located in the area of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, Le Minh Xuan campus, Ho Chi Minh City, for Buddhists and people to come and worship from May 2 to May 8. On the afternoon of May 8, the Buddha's relics will be brought to the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, Tay Ninh province until the end of May 12. On the morning of May 13, the Buddha's relics will arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport, a special plane will take them to Noi Bai airport to be brought to Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi.
The Buddha's relics will be carried in procession through the streets around Quan Su Pagoda and Hoan Kiem Lake, then placed in the Quan Su Pagoda hall for Buddhists to worship from May 14 to 16. At 5:30 a.m. on May 17, the Buddha's relics will be carried to Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam Province.
Along with the Buddha's relics, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak in Vietnam also enshrines the heart of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc. This is an important event to introduce to international friends the tradition of Vietnamese Buddhism accompanying the nation.
The heart relic of Venerable Thich Quang Duc represents the worldly spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism throughout history, and also demonstrates the spiritual depth of Vietnamese Buddhism. Venerable Thich Quang Duc burned himself to death to protest the war – an event that shocked international public opinion.
Thich Quang Duc burned himself to death in protest against war and the repression of Buddhists in 1963. (Photo: Malcolm Browne/AP)
Regarding the schedule for the procession of the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, on the morning of May 3, the relic will be carried from the State Bank of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City branch, to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, where the United Nations Vesak Festival will be held.
The heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc will be enshrined here from May 3 to 11 for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and international friends to pay homage. After the ceremony, the heart of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc will be enshrined permanently at the Bao Thap in Viet Nam Quoc Tu.
- How many international delegations have confirmed their attendance at the Grand Ceremony so far, Venerable?
Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien: There are about 1,250 delegates from 80 countries and territories, including Buddhist Kings, Supreme Patriarchs, Dharma Masters, Presidents of Buddhist organizations around the world; eminent monks who play an important role in orienting and developing the world Buddhist community; researchers, scholars, and Buddhist intellectuals around the world and in the country. There are some very large delegations, up to more than 100 people such as the delegations from China, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. There are delegations from faraway countries in Africa and Latin America. In addition, many Vietnamese people from all over the world attended.
Indian delegation visits Vietnam to survey sites to enshrine Buddha's relics. (Photo: GH)
Delegates representing the United Nations, international organizations, and countries expected to attend: President of Sri Lanka and accompanying ministerial officials; Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation); Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Republic of India; Minister of Cults and Religions of the Kingdom of Cambodia; United Nations officials; Ambassadors of countries in Vietnam.
Such great interest is due to the country's foundation and position in recent years and the success of previous hostings. We feel excited, honored and even pressured to see such international interest in this year's Vesak Festival.
Domestically, the Grand Ceremony will welcome about 1,500 delegates from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; distinguished guests include leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, central and local ministries and departments, and prominent Buddhists.
- Up to now, how have the preparations for the Great Ceremony been going, Venerable?
Venerable Thich Duc Thien: Regarding security, order, and traffic, the State has a support plan. The Organizing Committee has set up a Security Operations Center in the area where the Vesak Festival will take place.
Venerable Thich Duc Thien and Indian experts survey the venue for the Great Ceremony. (Photo: GH)
Regarding logistics, about 1,200 people will participate in the culinary work for the Great Ceremony. It is expected that nearly 200 vegetarian dishes will be served to delegates. Buddhists and people attending the Great Ceremony will be provided with free drinking water and lunch boxes by the Organizing Committee at the Buddhist Academy, Thanh Tam Pagoda, and Lang Le Park. Delegates will be arranged to stay at 15 hotels located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.
We are very grateful to the leaders of the Party, State and Ho Chi Minh City who, despite being very busy preparing for the 50th anniversary of national reunification, have always paid attention to the organization of the Vesak Festival and created all favorable conditions for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Lang Le Park was rushed to be completed in time for Buddhists to gather before arriving at the venue of the Grand Ceremony. This morning, the road to welcome delegates was also completed. Notably, usually at this time, the apricot blossoms in the South have already bloomed, but Ho Chi Minh City has paid attention to inviting artisans to take care of the apricot blossom pots to bloom in time for the Grand Ceremony's opening.
- Thank you very much, Venerable./.
(Vietnam+)
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dai-le-vesak-2025-cung-nghenh-xa-loi-phat-va-trai-tim-bo-tat-thich-quang-duc-post1034383.vnp
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