Buddha's 2568th birthday celebrated in Ninh Binh province

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in coordination with the executive board of the VBS in the northern province of Ninh Binh celebrated Buddha's 2568th birthday with a ceremony held at Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Attending the ceremony were Pham Quang Ngoc, Vice Secretary of provincial party committee, Chairman of provincial people's committee; Tong Quang Thin, standing Vice Chairman of provincial people's committee' Nguyen Hoang Ha, President of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice president of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Executive Council.

Thousands of Buddhist monks, nuns and followers, and locals joined the event.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, delivered a message of the VBS's Supreme Patriarch, which called on monks and nuns to do good deeds and make more contributions to the nation.

Nguyen Hoang Ha, President of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee extended his congratulations to dignitaries, monks and nuns, and people on Buddha's birthday.

Ha also spoke highly of dignitaries, monks and nuns, and people in building national sosidarity block as well as developing soceity-economy and ensuring social security- national defense in the past few years.

He attributed Ninh Binh's comprehensive achievements to contributions of religious organisations in the province, including the VBS's Ninh Binh chapter.

The official noted his hope that the provincial chapter and each Buddhist monk and nun will materialise the message of the VBS's Supreme Patriarch by specific, practical actions.

Participants then performed the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue and prayed for peace and happiness.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy