Vu Lan - The Gratitude Festival 2025: A Tribute to Vietnamese Traditions and Heroes
Launch of Vu Lan Festival by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
In the heart of Hà Nội, the Vu Lan - Gratitude Festival and Nation Programme 2025 was roaring into action on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. This event, organized by the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha, is a yearly tradition that honors the culture of gratitude intrinsic to the Vietnamese people and has been ongoing since 2014. The festival will run from May until September this year.
The festival packs a punch of activities, ranging from spiritual ceremonies to educational and artistic endeavors. Highlights include:
- Journey of Gratitude: A spiritual pilgrimage that includes burning incense in the sacred land of Quảng Trị.
- Journey of Nurturing: Supports for students in Hà Giang, a northern mountainous province.
- Online Writing and Drawing Contest: An engaging event aimed at young participants between the ages of 12 and 18, with contests focused on drawing, photography, and short story writing. The contest will run from June 3 to July 31.
- Vu Lan Art Performance: A captivating event titled "The Gratitude and Nation's Soul," set to take place on August 30 in Hà Nội, featuring mesmerizing performances and tales of Buddhist contributions to Vietnam's liberation.
Outstanding entries in the online contest will be showcased at the Vu Lan Art Performance, with works being compiled, selected, and printed into books as a lasting symbol of the gratitude and patriotism of Vietnamese youth today.
A view of the launch ceremony. - VNS Photo Thu Trang
The Spirit of Gratitude and Patriotism
The Most Venerable Thích Gia Quang, Deputy President of the Executive Council and Head of the Central Information and Communications Committee of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha, stressed the importance of the festival:
He emphasized that the festival encourages unity, love, and the cultivation of an ethical society, serving as a respectful offering of gratitude from today's and future generations to the souls of the deceased and ancestors who have contributed significantly to the nation.
Most Venerable Thích Gia Quang, Deputy President of the Executive Council and Head of the Central Information and Communications Committee of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha, speaks at the event. - VNS Photo Thu Trang
The Vu Lan - Gratitude Festival and Nation Programme 2025 serve as a platform for individuals and organizations to demonstrate their gratitude through practical and specific actions, promoting harmony and attachment between religion and life, as well as between Vietnamese Buddhism and the country.
An Ongoing Tradition Rooted in History
Although specific details on the inception of the Vu Lan - Gratitude Festival and Nation Programme are lacking, the Vu Lan Festival itself has roots in Buddhist history and has been celebrated for centuries. This year's program represents a contemporary expression of the timeless values of gratitude, filial piety, and patriotism engraved in Vietnamese culture.
The Vu Lan - Gratitude Festival and Nation Programme 2025 also includes AI technology, enhancing cultural travel experiences, allowing individuals to explore the history and significance of the festival in an immersive way.
This fusion of traditional and modern aspects is evident in the Online Writing and Drawing Contest, where AI can assist young participants in creating and refining their submissions, broadening their understanding and appreciation of gratitude and patriotism.
Moreover, the Vu Lan Art Performance could incorporate AI, projecting mesmerizing performances and tales of Buddhist contributions to Vietnam's liberation on large digital screens, attracting a wider audience and preserving the festival's rich history for future generations.
