During the Vu Lan festival, monks, nuns, Buddhists and people of Ha Tinh go to pagodas to celebrate the important and sacred festival of Buddhism. Along with the thoughtful organization at the pagodas, each contribution of the people and Buddhists will make a Vu Lan season full of love and affection.
The items serving Vu Lan ceremony at Pho Do pagoda have been completed.
Before the main Vu Lan festival (July 12th of the lunar calendar), at Pho Do pagoda (Ho Do commune, Loc Ha), many Buddhists participated in tasks such as decorating the altar, setting up the stage, organizing the prayer ceremony... Despite the large amount of work, everyone was happy to contribute to a meaningful Vu Lan festival.
Venerable Thich Hanh Minh - Abbot of Pho Do Pagoda said: “Originating from the story of Bodhisattva Maudgalyayana saving his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts in Buddhism, the Vu Lan festival of filial piety has become a beautiful traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people. This is an occasion to remind everyone of the birth and upbringing of ancestors, grandparents, parents and to show gratitude to those who have contributed to the country, demonstrating the morality of “When drinking water, remember its source” - a beautiful cultural feature of the Vietnamese people”.
Pho Do Pagoda is ready to hold Vu Lan festival in 2023.
It is known that from the beginning of the seventh lunar month, Pho Do Pagoda has planned and had many activities towards Vu Lan festival. Accordingly, from July 1 to 11, at 10am and 4pm, the pagoda will hold a ceremony to pray for ancestors and the souls of Buddhist families.
On July 11, the pagoda will hold Vu Lan festival, pay tribute to parents and many other activities. After that, the pagoda will organize charity activities to help poor families in Ho Do commune.
Ms. Lan (far right) went to Pho Do Pagoda to read sutras, hold a prayer ceremony for her relatives and help the pagoda prepare for the grand ceremony.
Ms. Le Thi Lan (Thach Long commune, Thach Ha) said: “Every year, on Vu Lan occasion, I go to Pho Do pagoda to read sutras, hold a ceremony to pray for my relatives and help the pagoda prepare for the ceremony. This is also a way for me to express my gratitude and filial piety to my parents, praying for their health and the peace of my family and children.”
Not only at Pho Do Pagoda but also all pagodas in Ha Tinh have been organizing many activities of Vu Lan festival to show gratitude to parents. This is the core of Vietnamese culture with the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" that our people have preserved and promoted.
At Giai Lam Pagoda (Tan Lam Huong Commune, Thach Ha), about a week before the main festival (July 12th of the lunar calendar), the atmosphere of preparation for the Vu Lan festival was bustling with many different activities. Buddhists came to the pagoda to decorate, clean, and complete many items towards the main festival. Many people came to the pagoda to burn incense, pray, and pray for the deceased, and pray for their families and loved ones.
Venerable Thich Tam Luc - Executive Board of Giai Lam Pagoda said: “Folklore often calls the seventh lunar month the “ghost month”, however, we need to consider to see the profound thinking of the Vietnamese people and Buddhism through the ages that has brought about the humanistic beauty of the seventh month - Vu Lan season. This is an opportunity to turn to the roots, reminding children and grandchildren about filial piety and filial piety to grandparents and ancestors. For those who have parents by their side, Vu Lan is an opportunity for them to better understand filial piety, thereby taking care of and building a warm family. As for those who are no longer protected by the love of their parents, let's strive to practice, create a lot of merit and virtue”.
The final preparations for the Vu Lan ceremony at Giai Lam Pagoda have been completed.
According to the schedule, on the main day of Vu Lan festival, activities such as pinning roses, gratitude, repentance... at Giai Lam pagoda will help Buddhists have moments to open their hearts, find a sense of peace with their parents, and promote the duty of Buddhists to their parents. Vu Lan festival will be held solemnly, peacefully, without burning votive paper.
On this occasion, pagodas in Ha Tinh simultaneously held prayers for the souls of the families, ancestors, and heroes and martyrs...
Buddhists decorate Vu Lan ceremony at Tuong Son Pagoda.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuong (Pho Chau town, Huong Son) shared: “Every full moon of the seventh lunar month, I spend time going to Tuong Son pagoda (Son Giang commune) to help the pagoda prepare for Vu Lan ceremony. Through lectures, prayers, dharma talks or lighting candles of gratitude, pinning red roses on parents, I and many others feel peaceful and light-hearted.”
The Vu Lan season of filial piety has arrived. This is a cultural feature of filial piety in Buddhism. Along with the thoughtful and large-scale organization at the pagodas, each contribution of the people and Buddhists will create a Vu Lan season full of love and affection. At the same time, reminding each person every day, every hour to always be aware of fulfilling their duties is a way to educate people, especially the young generation, about filial piety.
Thuy Anh
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