The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha held a ceremony at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Kim Bang district, the northern province of Ha Nam, on July 22 to plant a Bodhi tree presented by Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya.
The Bodhi tree is a branch of Sri Lanka’s 2,250 year-old Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the oldest tree in the world.
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is said to be the right-wing branch (southern branch) from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
Tam Chuc pagoda sits on a site of nearly 5,000ha, surrounding by lakes, mountains, forests and valleys.
Excavated objects reveal that the pagoda is around 1,000 years old.
The pagoda, which has been entirely damaged with time, is being rebuilt with the first phase expected to be completed in May 2019 when the pagoda hosts the UN Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).
The Tam Chuc complex was recognised by the Prime Minister as a national tourism site in 2013.
Source: vietnamplus.vn
