Flower parade to celebrate Buddha's birthday

Thua Thien - Hue 32 flower-decorated floats depicting the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni paraded on the streets of Hue on the evening of May 31.

At 7 p.m., 32 flower cars from Buddhist temples and pagodas in Thua Thien Hue province gathered on Le Duan Street, in front of Phu Van Lau relic. Besides the decoration of the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni, many flower cars carried images of Buddhism, images of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc - the monk who self-immolated to protect Vietnamese Buddhism in 1963.

The flower car parade followed each other through the northern streets of Hue city, from Le Duan street to Tran Hung Dao, Huynh Thuc Khang, Mai Thuc Loan, Doan Thi Diem, Le Huan, Thach Han... On both sides of the street, thousands of Buddhists and people stood watching the flower car parade.

The wedding car is decorated with eye-catching dragon images. Photo: Vo Thanh — The wedding car is decorated with eye-catching dragon images. Photo: *Vo Thanh*

Ms. Nguyen Thi Cat Tuong, 32 years old, in Hue City, said that compared to previous years, this year's flower cars were decorated more elaborately and eye-catchingly. She was most impressed with the flower car procession with the image of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

To celebrate the Buddha's birthday, the Executive Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Thua Thien Hue province also displayed seven giant pink lotus flowers on the Perfume River. The bathing ceremony and the procession of Buddha from Dieu De Pagoda to Tu Dam Pagoda will also be held on the afternoon of June 1 (April 14 of the lunar calendar).

The image of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc with his immortal heart is decorated on the flower car. Photo: Vo Thanh — The image of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc with his immortal heart is decorated on the flower car. Photo: *Vo Thanh*

Buddha's Birthday commemorates the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni in 624 BC. Previously, East Asian countries often celebrated Buddha's Birthday on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Since the first World Buddhist Congress in 1950, 26 member countries have celebrated Buddha's Birthday on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. In 1999, the United Nations recognized Buddha's Birthday as a world cultural and spiritual festival.