Photo exhibition features Vietnamese pagodas

Truc Lam Giac Tam Zen Monasty in northern Quang Ninh province

 (Source: VNA)

On display are 45 photos provided by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), which are divided into three parts: photos of pagodas from the North to the South, photos of pagodas on islands, and those featuring Vietnamese pagodas abroad.

There are currently more than 14,000 pagodas across Vietnam, most of them are located in the North

A pagoda in Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang (Source: VNA)

The 16th UN Day of Vesak is taking place at Tam Chuc pagoda from May 12-14. Its opening ceremony attracted the participation of more than 1,650 international delegates from 112 countries and territories across the world and over 20,000 Vietnamese Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers.

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the year’s most sacred day to the millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha passed away.

Giac Hoang pagoda in Washington DC, US (Source: VNA)

The UN General Assembly internationally recognised the Day of Vesak in 1999 to acknowledge the contributions Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made to humanity. 

The UN Day of Vesak was first held in 2001. Vietnam has twice hosted successful celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak in 2008 and in 2014.

Source: VNA