On May 5, in the solemn grounds of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, campus II (HCMC), the Organizing Committee of the United Nations Vesak Buddhist daily festival 2025 solemnly held a ceremony to raise the Buddhist flag with a world record size of 500 m2.
The giant Buddhist flag, with a length of 25.69 m and a width of 19.47 m, bears five traditional colors: green, yellow, red, white and orange, sewn from a super durable fabric according to international standards. The special length of 25.69 m has a symbolic meaning for the 2,569 years of Buddhism.
According to the Organizing Committee, the five colors of the flag are not only a symbol of Buddhism but also symbolizes the cohesion of five continents, showing the aspiration of peace worldwide. This is also a profound wish of Buddhism in spreading compassion, perfectly suitable for the theme of this year's Vesak ceremony: "Solidarity and tolerance for human dignity: Wisdom of Buddhism for World Peace and Sustainable Development".
The Upper Lunar New Year ceremony took place solemnly with the participation of monks, monks, Buddhists and a large number of people. After the world's largest Buddhist flag slowly flew in the sky, 500 colorful balloons were released, as a congratulatory message for this important event.
On the same day, the 2025 LHQ Vesak Buddhist Cultural Exhibition also officially opened at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy with the theme "Where art and spirituality converge".
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was honored to welcome the Venerable Thich Quang Nhuan, Member of the Vietnam Buddhist Church Council (Vietnam Buddhist Sangha); The Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Standing Member of the Council, Head of the Central Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, with the monks and nuns, monks and nuns and numerous delegates, people and Buddhists.
This year's Vesak Festival is not only a gathering place for the global Buddhist community but also a valuable opportunity to introduce and honor the profound cultural, artistic and spiritual values of Buddhism, contributing to the richness of world culture.
The 2025 Vesak Festival is co-organized by the United Nations Committee for the occasion of the Vesak Festival and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
This is the fourth time Vietnam has hosted this important international Buddhist event, after successful holding them in Hanoi (2008), Ninh Binh 2014 and Ha Nam (2019).
It is expected that the Vesak 2025 Festival will attract the participation of representatives from 85 countries and territories, taking place from June 6 to May 8 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.
