Organizing Buddha's Birthday Festival 2023

On the evening of May 27, at the Bai Dinh Pagoda International Conference Center, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ninh Binh province held the Buddha's Birthday Celebration, Buddhist calendar 2567 - Gregorian calendar 2023.

Attending the ceremony were comrades: Doan Minh Huan, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mai Van Tuat, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Do Viet Anh, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission, Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Organizing Buddha's Birthday Festival 2023 — Delegates attending the ceremony.

Also attending were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, leaders of provincial departments, branches and sectors; representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Provincial Executive Committee, and a large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists and people.

At the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, read the Buddha's Birthday Message 2567 of the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

The message emphasizes: In the context of humanity having just gone through the COVID-19 pandemic and political conflicts still evolving complicatedly here and there in the world; following the vow of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, all monks, nuns, and Buddhists should together devote themselves more to the path of practicing Bodhisattva conduct. Each monk, nun, and Buddhist of all walks of life should strive to do good deeds, actively contribute to building the country, creating peace within themselves to form a lotus platform to offer to the Buddha during this year's Buddha's birthday. Venerable monks and nuns at all levels of the Sangha, Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad should continue to be united, join hands to contribute to the Bodhisattva vow, dignify themselves and serve humanity, and live a good life and practice the Dharma.

Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the provincial leaders, comrade Do Viet Anh, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission, Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, sent congratulations to all clergy, monks, nuns, Buddhist followers and people from all walks of life to celebrate Buddha's birthday in peace and harmony.

Recognizing and praising the efforts and important contributions of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province, he emphasized: Ninh Binh is one of the localities where Buddhism was introduced very early, a place that still records many traces of the development of Vietnamese Buddhism. Continuing the historical tradition, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province always promotes the spirit of "Six harmonies, co-existence", guiding monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers to live according to Buddhist teachings, comply with the laws of the State, fulfill their civic duties, unite the nation, unite religions, actively participate in patriotic emulation movements in the locality, especially social security activities, practice a civilized lifestyle...

The Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission and Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee said: Over the past years, Ninh Binh province has always been proactive, creative, promoting its potential and advantages, overcoming difficulties and challenges, achieving important and comprehensive achievements in all fields. The province's economy has continuously grown well; the economic structure has shifted in a positive direction. The total budget revenue in the area in 2022 reached over 24,300 billion VND, ranking 15th out of 63 provinces and cities; the province balances its own budget and has a regulation on the central budget.

In particular, Ninh Binh tourism has become a bright spot on the tourism map of Vietnam and the world, in the group of 15 leading destinations in the world; group of 10 provinces with the highest number of visitors in the country, creating a driving force to promote the development of many other industries and fields, making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the province.

The Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission and Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee affirmed that in that common achievement, there were positive contributions from religious organizations in the province, including the Provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

He expressed his belief that with the direction of attachment and companionship with the nation, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province and each monk, nun and Buddhist follower will concretize the Buddha's Birthday Message of the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with specific and practical actions. Continue to promote and spread the good cultural and ethical values and resources of Buddhism in social life, contributing to building the homeland and country more and more prosperous.

In a progressive and peaceful atmosphere, the delegates, along with a large number of monks, nuns and Buddhists, performed the Buddha's birthday chanting and bathing ceremony. Thereby, spreading positive cultural values, together building a peaceful and prosperous world.