Ninh Binh holds ceremony to worship massive jade Buddha

Featuring preaching, prayer meetings and a lantern festival, the worshipping ceremony lasts until May 6.The "Jade Buddha for Peace" was carved from gemstone-quality jade called Polar Pride discovered in northern Canada in 2000. Ian Green, an Australian Buddhist, invited artisans from Nepal, India and Thailand to carve the statue in Thailand.The statue is modelled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in India's Bodh Gaya. It stands 2.7m tall, weighs four tonnes and sits on a 1.4m-high solid alabaster throne. Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world.In 2009, the statue was first displayed in various pagodas in Vietnam such as in the central city of Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap in the south, as well as the northern province of Bac Ninh.After its exhibition in Vietnam this year, the Jade Buddha will be permanently installed in Australia.

(Source: VNA)