According to Drukpa Vietnam, this month's festival includes activities such as the unveiling of the thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Avalokiteshvara Buddha thangka, an exhibition of 150 m of meditative mantra calligraphy, and a lantern lighting ceremony for world peace. These events will be personally conducted by Gyalwang Drukpa, who has been connected with Vietnam for nearly 20 years.
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The thongdrol unveiling ceremony at the 2025 festival. Photo: Giang Huy |
The thongdrol unveiling ceremony at the 2025 festival. Photo: Giang Huy
The festival begins on 25/4 with the unveiling of a thongdrol, a grand ceremony in Indian and Himalayan Buddhist culture typically performed at royal palaces or large monasteries.
Vajrayana Buddhism believes that unveiling a thongdrol for public veneration and spiritual rituals brings auspicious energy. Measuring 11,8 x 16 m and weighing over 100 kg, this thongdrol is Vietnam's largest embroidered brocade painting, crafted by 40 senior royal Bhutanese artisans over half a year.
On 27/4, the monastic community will lead a Medicine Buddha empowerment ceremony, praying for physical and mental well-being. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha, depicted holding a precious medicine jar, represents the power to heal physical ailments, fear, and disorientation. The Buddha statue is often placed facing east, the direction of the rising sun, symbolizing the start of a new day with the belief that "health is everything."
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Mandala Tay Thien is an architectural complex that recreates the universe in Vajrayana Buddhism. Photo: Giang Huy |
Mandala Tay Thien is an architectural complex that recreates the universe in Vajrayana Buddhism. Photo: Giang Huy
The festival is held at Mandala Tay Thien stupa, the largest Vajrayana Buddhist architectural complex in the country, bearing the distinct mark of Himalayan Buddhism. The complex is arranged along a central-peripheral axis, comprising the main stupa, auxiliary stupas, monastic halls, a lake, and landscaping. Each structure holds symbolic significance, with the entire complex forming a giant mandala that visually recreates the "Five Elements, Five Wisdoms" doctrine of Vajrayana Buddhism.
The Drukpa Lineage is an important branch of Vajrayana Buddhism. Its nearly one-thousand-year legacy has made it a central religion, shaping the cultural identity of Bhutan. This South Asian nation is renowned for its Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, which integrates Buddhist philosophy and public policy, emphasizing the balance of material, spiritual, environmental, and cultural aspects. The Drukpa Lineage provides the philosophical foundation for this model, helping people embrace a development path based on happiness and well-being, not solely on GDP.
In the 21st century, the Drukpa Lineage has expanded its influence beyond the India-Himalayan region, now present in many countries, including Western nations. Gyalwang Drukpa, the 12th spiritual leader of the lineage, is influential in religion and engages in cultural and social dialogues, with his benevolent actions recognized internationally.
Phong Linh
