Buddha's relics will arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport by military plane and be displayed throughout Vesak.

Buddha's relics will arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport by military plane and be displayed throughout Vesak - Photo 1.

Venerable Thich Duc Thien informed at the press conference - Photo: T.DIEU

The information was shared by Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien - Vice President of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - at a press conference on the afternoon of April 22 in Hanoi about the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, which will take place in early May at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Buddha's relics will visit many places in Vietnam

According to Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang - Vice President of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vietnam is hosting the United Nations Vesak Festival for the 4th time, and it is held in Ho Chi Minh City, the city is solemnly celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification, so it is very important.

This year's ceremony will feature the Buddha's relics brought from India and the heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc for people to worship.

Regarding the welcoming of Buddha's relics from India to Vietnam, Venerable Thich Duc Thien said that this time the Buddha's relics are a national treasure of India, discovered by a British archaeologist in the late 19th century, and are currently enshrined in the National Museum of India.

According to regulations, in terms of diplomatic protocol, Buddha's relics going abroad are considered as the head of state going abroad.

Therefore, to welcome the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha to be honored on the occasion of this Vesak Festival, 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 relics of Buddha to 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 (from April 18) to conduct an advance inspection of the places where Vietnam plans to enshrine Buddha's relics.

To enshrine the Buddha's relics, the Indian side pays great attention to temperature, humidity, security, and ensuring the 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 plane, escorted by the Indian Minister of Defense.

Then the procession will take place at Thanh Tam Pagoda, located in the area of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, Le Minh Xuan campus, Ho Chi Minh City, where it will be placed for Buddhists and people to come and worship from May 2 to 8.

On the afternoon of May 8, Buddha's relics were brought to the national tourist area of Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh province, where they will be enshrined until 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 brought to Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam Province.

relics - Photo 3.

Heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc - Photo: Giac Ngo Newspaper

Heart relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc

Along with Buddha's relics, the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival in Vietnam also enshrines the heart of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.

According to Venerable Thich Duc Thien, the enshrinement of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's heart at the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival is of great significance in introducing 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 at the same time demonstrates the spiritual depth of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Venerable Thich Quang Duc has continued the quintessence of King Buddha Tran Nhan Tong from hundreds of years ago.

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 relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc were 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 permanently enshrined at Da Bao tower in Viet Nam Quoc Tu.

Many heads of state attend the United Nations Vesak Festival 2025

Regarding international delegates attending the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien said there will be 1,250 delegates from 80 countries and 5 territories attending.

Of which, the Indian delegation has over 140 delegates, the Chinese delegation has nearly 150 delegates along with an art performance group, and the Thai delegation has about 150 delegates.

There are also delegations from countries far from Vietnam such as Cuba, Latin America, Africa...

The heads of state delegates attended and delivered speeches by the President of Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, and the Indian Minister who attended and delivered a speech on behalf of the President of India.

With United Nations officials, government officials, embassies in Vietnam...