Ho Chi Minh City "collapsed" because of the Buddha's Birthday Ceremony. What is the origin and meaning of this Great Ceremony?

In the midst of the atmosphere, people are turning towards the spirituality of Buddhism, welcoming Buddha's Birthday, an extremely big holiday for Buddhist believers. The meaning and origin of this Great Festival are also of interest to learn from netizens.

Buddha's Birthday is one of the three major holidays of the Buddhist year (Buddha's Birthday, Vu Lan, and Enlightenment). Before 1959, East Asian countries often celebrated Buddha's Birthday on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. But at the first World Buddhist Congress, in Colombo (Sri Lanka) held from May 25 to June 8, 1950, 26 member countries agreed to take the international Buddha's Birthday as the full moon day. April of the lunar calendar every year (April 15).

Since 1999, Buddha's Birthday on April 15 (lunar calendar) has been recognized by the United Nations as a world spiritual cultural festival. Buddha's Birthday is one of the three ceremonies that make up the Triple Ceremony that the United Nations calls Vesak (Buddha's Birth Ceremony, Buddha's Enlightenment Ceremony and Buddha's Nirvana Ceremony).

Buddha's Birthday is held every year, on the full moon day of the fourth month, to commemorate the birth of Buddha. Buddha Shakyamuni was born as Prince Siddhartha, from the Gautama family, the Shakyamuni royal family. He is said to have been born on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month in the year 624 BC (according to the explanation of the Southern sect), the 8th day of the 4th lunar month (according to the explanation of the Northern sect) at Lumbini garden - where located between Kapilavastu and Devadaha in Nepal.

On holidays, Buddhists often honor the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha (through forms such as making offerings, giving flowers, listening to sermons), and practicing vegetarianism and keeping the Five Precepts, practicing almsgiving and Do charity work, give gifts and money to the weak in the community.

According to tradition, Buddha's Birthday in Vietnam is held solemnly and respectfully by Buddhism. The main ceremony is held on the full moon day of the 4th lunar month. Churches of provinces and cities, pagodas and monasteries often organize activities to celebrate the great day such as: building platforms to organize cultural shows and parades. Floating floats, releasing flower lanterns on the river, preaching about Buddhism, Buddha bathing rituals... so that Buddhists remember the anniversary of Buddha's birth, Buddha brought the light of truth to shine into life. live, eliminating suffering and pain.

On Buddha's Birthday, Buddhists do not kill, everyone is vegetarian, cleans the house and decorates the Buddha altar beautifully. Buddhists can go to the temple to help with meritorious deeds, listen to sermons about life, and contemplate their own actions to purify their souls.

In addition, before and during the Great Festival, the Buddhist Sangha of provinces, cities and pagodas actively organize charity activities, visit and give gifts to reputable monks, nuns and Buddhists with meritorious services. with Dharma or households in difficult circumstances, disabled people.... Through these activities, it is an opportunity for each Buddhist to identify his or her role in the responsibility of building society, building an increasingly prosperous and happy country, in accordance with the Buddhist motto "living a good life, beautiful religion".

On the evening of May 19 (April 12 of the lunar calendar), thousands of people and Buddhists throughout Ho Chi Minh City flocked to Phap Hoa Pagoda (District 3) to release lanterns and pray on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist calendar. 2568. This is one of the beautiful beliefs maintained by the people of Ho Chi Minh City over many years.

Releasing flower lanterns is a meaningful act in Buddhism. When the flower lantern is lit, each person will pray into it for goodness and peace for themselves and their family. Because there is only one way down to the canal, the pagoda has limited people from directly releasing them into the water. Instead, a team of volunteers is in charge of receiving lanterns from everyone to drop into Nhieu Loc - Thi canal. I'm tired.

Buddha's birthday is an expression of solidarity in the spirit of peaceful cooperation and happiness. During the Buddha's birthday season, Buddhists everywhere practice the spirit of solidarity, mutual love, helping and encouraging each other to overcome difficulties and rise up in life. Contribute to hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

Buddha's birthday celebration also promotes the spirit of mutual assistance, overcoming difficulties and building a peaceful and happy life for everyone. On holidays, Buddhists often honor the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha (through forms such as making offerings, giving flowers, listening to sermons), and practicing vegetarianism and keeping the Five Precepts, practicing almsgiving and Do charity work, give gifts and money to the weak in the community.

In addition, before and during the Great Festival, the Buddhist Sangha of provinces, cities and pagodas actively organize charity activities, visit and give gifts to reputable monks, nuns and Buddhists with meritorious services. with Dharma or households in difficult circumstances, disabled people.... Through these activities, it is an opportunity for each Buddhist to identify his or her role in the responsibility of building society, building an increasingly prosperous and happy country, in accordance with the Buddhist motto "living a good life, beautiful religion".