Festival 2017 of Hoang Phuc Pagoda – a national historical relic in Central Vietnam was held on February 18 and 19 in Quang Binh province’s Le Thuy district.
Attending the festival included Venerable General Secretary of the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council Thích Đức Thiện, representatives of local authorities, and large numbers of Buddhist followers and visitors throughout the country.
Venerable General Secretary cum Abbot of Hoang Phuc Pagoda Thích Đức Thiện speaks at ceremony
The festival took place with a series of activities including water procession, release of living creatures, Buddhist conversion ceremony and preaching, prayers for peace and prosperity, and candlelight ceremony, as well as folk games of tug of war (Kéo co), volleyball and chess.
Ritual of water procession
The festival held for the second time aimed to honor and express gratitude to King-Monk Trần Nhân Tông who founded the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen in 1301, as well as preserve and promote cultural values of Hoang Phuc Pagoda historical relic.
Hoang Phuc Pagoda is an ancient pagoda in Quang Binh province, with a long history of over 700 years. The reconstruction of the pagoda was completed last year.
TP
