At 6:30 PM on May 24, the procession of the statue of Buddha's Birthday and the flower palanquin parade celebrating Buddha's Birthday PL. 2570 of Ho Chi Minh City Buddhism from An Quang communal house (Vuon Lai ward) to Vietnam Quoc Tu (Hoa Hung ward) will be solemnly held.
This is an annual activity organized by the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (GHPGVN) of Ho Chi Minh City, and also an activity marking the beginning of Buddha's Birthday week of Ho Chi Minh City Buddhism, attracting the attention and participation of a large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists and city residents, in the joyful anticipation of the Buddha's birth day.
After the incense offering ceremony presided over by venerable dignitaries of the Organizing Committee of Buddha's Birthday Celebration PL. 2570, the statue of the newborn Buddha will be carried off the platform at the An Quang ancestral temple, and the royal throne will be raised.
The procession of ceremonial headdresses and flower palanquins of professional departments under the Management Board, Giac Ngo Newspaper and Buddhist sects of the City departed from An Quang communal house to the main platform of Ho Chi Minh City Buddhism to celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Buddhist calendar 2570 at Vietnam Quoc Tu, moving along the route through the routes: Su Van Hanh - Ngo Gia Tu - Le Hong Phong extended - 3 Thang 2; then entering the main gate of Vietnam Quoc Tu.
According to information from the Organizing Committee, so far there have been 16 flower palanquins, with different themes registered to parade in the procession on the evening of August 8th of the lunar calendar (May 24th of the solar calendar).
After offering the kim thân (golden body) of the newborn Buddha to be placed at the main stage, the venerable monks will perform the Mộc dục (Buddha Bathing) ritual according to tradition.
At 5:30 am on May 31st, the official ceremony part of the 2570th Buddha's Birthday Great Ceremony will be held at the main podium of Ho Chi Minh City Buddhism in Vietnam Quoc Tu. Previously, at exactly 4 am, all temples throughout the City simultaneously solemnly set off 3 Bat Nha bells and drums to carry the Birthday Ceremony.
In particular, this year, with the change in administrative boundaries, for the first time, Buddhism in Ho Chi Minh City organized the Buddha's Birthday Ceremony of the 2570th Buddhist calendar at 3 main ceremonial platforms, at 3 different times.
Besides Vietnam Quoc Tu, at Hoi Khanh Pagoda (Thu Dau Mot ward), the Buddha's Birthday Great Ceremony will take place at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, May 26.
At Bai Truoc Triangle area (Traditional House, No. 1 Ba Cu, Vung Tau ward), the Buddha's Birthday Ceremony will take place at 5:30 PM on Thursday, May 28.
