Vietnam rush to complete Vesak festival preparations
Vietnam is in a hurry to accomplish all preparations for the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) 2008 slated in Hanoi from May 13-17, said a senior Buddhist dignitary.
Organisers have called upon Buddhist dignitaries, monks and followers as well as scholars and invited guests both at home and abroad to register for perticipation and send reports to seminars on schedule, said Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice General Secretary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council.
Hosted by Vietnam for the first time, the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) is a chance to deliver Buddha message of peace, conciliation, harmony, mercifulness, progress and global sustainable development.
Venerable Quang revealed that Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Buddhist monks, nuns and followers from France-based Plum Village will also come back to Vietnam from April 22 to June 21 to join the event at the invitation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the UNDV International Organising Committee.
Two religious practice courses will be held during the occasion for Buddhist monks, nuns, followers, including a six-day course for 500 foreigners living in Vietnam .
According to the organising board, as many as 600 delegations from 95 countries and territories with 1,500 Buddhist dignitaries and scholars have to date registered to join the event.
Thousands of foreign and domestic Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns will pray for peace at the closing ceremony.
Source VNA