On April 13, the Union of Friendship Organizations organized an event for celebrating the traditional New Year festival of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand at the Youth Culture House in Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC).
The event was held in collaboration with Vietnam-Cambodia, Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Associations.
Attending the festival event included Most Venerable Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Council cum Chairman of the city VBS Executive Committee Thích Thiện Tâm, representatives of the city’s authorities, the Union of Friendship Organizations, the Consulate General of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, and large numbers of foreign students and local people.
During the event, Most Venerable Thích Thiện Tâm initiated Buddhist rituals for celebrating the New Year festival, including ceremonies for bathing the Buddha, tying white threads around each other’s wrists for good luck and good health, and Buddhist prayers.
The traditional New Year festival of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand annually takes place from April 13-15. During this traditional New Year festival, known as Chol Chnam Thmay in Cambodia, Bunpimay in Laos, Thing Yang in Myanmar and Trut-Songkran in Thailand, many sacred rituals and prayers for luck, happiness and peace are often held.
The event is one of annual cultural-exchange activities held by the Union of Friendship Organizations with the aim to enhance mutual understanding between Vietnam and neighboring countries.
Source: giacngo.vn ( Vũ Giang)
