On the evening of August 22nd (July 10th of the Binh Ngo year), amidst prolonged heavy rain in Hanoi, thousands of Buddhists still returned to Bang Pagoda - Linh Tien Tu, Hoang Liet ward (Hanoi), to attend the Vu Lan filial piety festival in Buddhist calendar 2570 - Gregorian calendar 2026.
Quang Lam proves that the ceremony was attended by Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem - Vice Chairman of the Executive Council, Head of the Central Propaganda Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (GHPGVN), Abbot of Bang Pagoda - Linh Tien Tu; Venerable Thich Thanh Tam - Standing Member, Deputy Chief of Office of the Central Propaganda Department of the GHPGVN and monks and nuns.
At the ceremony, Buddhist youths of Bang Pagoda offered flowers to offer to the Three Jewels. The ritual of offering six offerings was solemnly performed, conveying the meanings of morality, wisdom, purity and the process of nurturing good deeds. The public also prayed for the glorious Fatherland, the lasting Dharma, world peace, and people's peace.
A highlight of the Great Ceremony is the ritual of offering tea to worship Buddha and the great Patriarchs, thereby reminding Buddhists of the merits of parents, ancestors and the gratitudes that make up each person's existence. The tea offering ritual also emphasizes cherishing parents when they are still alive and continuing to nurture filial piety with good deeds when parents have passed away.
The Vu Lan memorial part performed by People's Artist Lan Huong, in harmony with the sound of the monochord of Artist Thanh Thuong, brings moments of contemplation about the merit of giving birth and nurturing. The rosary attachment ritual continues to remind each person to cherish family affection when they can still love and support their parents.
Especially touching was the moment when Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem personally offered flowers and presented a string of Buddha's name beads in gratitude to his mother. This image emphasizes the message: no matter what position, each person still carries a debt of gratitude to their parents; filial piety is not only a duty but also a path of cultivation.
Sangha leader, Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem emphasized the profound merit of parents' birth and upbringing, and affirmed "Gratitude is the heart of the Buddha, filial piety is the heart of the Buddha".
According to the Venerable, the spirit of filial piety in Buddhism is harmonized with the nation's tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source", and at the same time expands the sincere gratitude to the Four Graces.
The Venerable also emphasized that the Vu Lan spirit needs to be expressed by responsibility to the family, community and country; knowing how to cherish those who sacrificed for peace and independence, while maintaining moral life and doing good deeds to repay gratitude.
Closing the Great Ceremony night, the general public wholeheartedly prayed, remembering the merits of Buddhas, ancestors, parents, grandparents, meritorious predecessors and soldiers who sacrificed for the country.
