Uposatha Vu Lan this year at the Mandala Western Heaven Stupa is particularly early, lasting from July 28 to August 18 (i.e., the 15th day of the 7th lunar month).
According to the Bhikkhuni in charge, shared during the Phả độ gia tiên ceremony - the event marking the beginning of the 2024 Vu Lan season at the Mandala Western Heaven Great Stupa, in the life of each of us, we are all blessed with four profound debts, namely - debt to parents, debt to teachers, debt to patrons, and debt to the nation…
The Vu Lan ceremony and the ghost festival, although sharing a common Buddhist origin and aimed at ultimately praying for the liberation of all spirits, have distinct origins and are practiced through different rituals.
The Vu Lan ceremony carries the significance of filial piety and praying for the liberation of parents and nine generations of ancestors. The Mông Sơn Thí ritual of offering to ghosts is to make offerings to those spirits who have no one to worship, aiming at accumulating good fortune.
The organizers said that after the Phả độ gia tiên ceremony and the Mông Sơn Thí ritual, the main Vu Lan Thắng Hội ceremony will be held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (August 18).
The Vu Lan Thắng Hội ceremony will last for two days, from now until the end of Sunday (August 18), including Buddhist cultural activities such as: Kora Stupa - Circumambulating 108 times around the Great Stupa to accumulate merit and dedicate it to one's parents and the Four Great Debts; Flower arrangement contest, offering incense and flowers to express gratitude and affection to one's parents - the source of merit and happiness; The ritual of wearing a rose, accompanied by chanting, releasing animals, and art performances, setting up a five-fruit tray, and writing gratitude on the wall will contribute to making the ceremony more solemn and meaningful...
Notably, the essay competition on the theme "Four Great Debts" has received attention and participation from many Buddhist devotees, divided into teams to write scripts and present on topics such as: debt to parents, debt to the Triple Gem, debt to the nation, and debt to the environment of all living beings...
In the minds of each person, the Vu Lan festival is considered the largest festival of Buddhism. Without hesitation, many Buddhist devotees and locals from various provinces have traveled to Tam Đảo (Vĩnh Phúc) to attend the ceremony at the Mandala Western Heaven Great Stupa.
Some people have spent the entire 7th lunar month at the stupa, worshiping the Buddha and engaging in meritorious activities, eagerly preparing for the Vu Lan Thắng Hội ceremony to be held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
