At Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi City, monks solemnly performed rituals before processing the Buddha's relics through central Hanoi streets, praying for national peace and prosperity.

The main Buddha's Birthday celebration for Buddhist calendar 2570 will be held at 8h on 31/5 at the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hanoi.

On the occasion of the Great Buddha's Birthday (Buddhist calendar 2570 - Gregorian calendar 2026) and the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha organized a procession of Buddha's relics and statues through central Hanoi streets.

At exactly 19h, the Buddha's relics were reverently placed on a vehicle to begin their journey through central Hanoi streets.

In his Buddha's Birthday message to monks, nuns, and devotees both domestically and abroad, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang emphasized that amidst global instability, the compassionate and wise values of the Buddha remain significant, fostering peace, strengthening solidarity, and promoting sustainable development.

The procession started from the headquarters of the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at Quan Su Pagoda, moving through Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai, Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Ba Trieu, and Hai Ba Trung streets before returning to its starting point.

The procession included about 30-40 flower vehicles adorned with images of the newborn Buddha, with the participation of about 500 dignitaries, monks, nuns, and devotees.

The procession offers thousands of monks, nuns, devotees, and people from all directions an opportunity to gather, reverently worship the Buddha's relics, and pray for national peace, favorable weather, and well-being for all.

The vehicle carrying the Buddha's relics traveled at the end of the procession, strictly guarded and accompanied by numerous monks, nuns, and devotees on both sides.

Along the procession route, residents waited to witness the Buddha's relics and participate in the solemn atmosphere of the Great Buddha's Birthday celebration.

In Hue, at about 17h30, thousands of monks, nuns, and devotees gathered at Dieu De Pagoda on Bach Dang Street to attend the bathing of the Buddha ceremony and Buddha procession, organized by the Hue City Buddhist Sangha Executive Board as part of the activities celebrating the Great Buddha's Birthday (Buddhist calendar 2570).

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thanh presided over the Moc duc (bathing of the Buddha) ritual, commemorating the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Buddha's Birthday is one of the three events constituting the Great Vesak celebration, along with the Buddha's enlightenment and the Buddha's parinirvana. Since 1999, the United Nations has recognized Vesak as a global spiritual and cultural festival. During the ritual, monks and nuns reverently clasped their hands in worship and performed the bathing of the Buddha ceremony.

After the traditional bathing of the Buddha ritual, the statue of the newborn Buddha was processed by monks, nuns, and devotees from Dieu De Pagoda to Tu Dam Pagoda, the headquarters of the Hue City Buddhist Sangha Executive Board.

Leading the procession were monks carrying two lotus flower vases, along with incense.

A dragon-decorated flower vehicle led the procession, carrying the statue of the newborn Buddha from Dieu De Pagoda to Tu Dam Pagoda. Following the flower vehicle were thousands of monks and devotees carrying lotus lanterns.

From Dieu De Pagoda, monks and devotees walked in the Buddha procession through Bach Dang, Tran Hung Dao, Truong Tien Bridge, Le Loi, and Dien Bien Phu streets before concluding at Tu Dam Pagoda. The journey covered over 4 km.

At about 18h40, the procession reached the intersection of Le Loi Street and Phu Xuan Bridge. After about 20 minutes of travel, the procession arrived at Tu Dam Pagoda on Su Lieu Quan Street.

Many elderly devotees in traditional lam ao knelt before the memorial for the martyred saints, awaiting the procession. When the procession appeared, they clasped their hands in worship in a solemn atmosphere.

Young women wearing lam ao dai and holding flowers participated in the procession on Le Loi Street. Accompanying them were 32 flower vehicles from various pagodas and Buddhist temples.

The Buddha procession crossed Truong Tien Bridge, then turned onto Le Loi Street, passing the memorial for the martyred saints. Along the route, numerous residents stood on both sides, observing and welcoming the procession.

According to the plan, on the morning of the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, the Hue City Buddhist Sangha Executive Board will organize the Great Buddha's Birthday celebration at Tu Dam Pagoda. On the evening of the same day, 32 flower vehicles will parade through central streets for residents and tourists to admire.

Giang Huy - Vo Thanh