On May 14, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam carried out the Vesak Day Blessing ceremony of 2022, in collaboration with Bai Dinh Pagoda in the Ninh Binh Province of Viet Nam, Linea Aqua Viet Nam and Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA Campus) in Pallekele, Kundasale.
The event commenced with a traditional pooja to the Lord Buddha, which was followed by blessings led by Most Ven. Thich Minh Quan, Chief Monk of Bai Dinh Pagoda, and other resident Monks of the Pagoda. A pre-recorded sermon conducted by Ven. Viharagala Pannaloka Thera, Lecturer of SIBA Campus, was also relayed to the congregation.
Addressing the worshippers, Most Ven. Thich Minh Quan expressed his profound gratitude to the Embassy for organizing the event at Bai Dinh Pagoda for the first time. Most Ven. Quan recognized the contributions of Sri Lanka to preserving and propagating Buddhism, of which he was also a beneficiary. He blessed Sri Lanka and its people and prayed for the good health and happiness of the peoples of Viet Nam and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Prasanna Gamage acknowledged the dedicated support extended by Bai Dinh Pagoda in making the event a success. He emphasized the importance of the teachings of the Lord Buddha to the modern world – in particular, the principle of impermanence and its relevance to human life. On behalf of the Monks and the Management Committee, Most Ven. Thich Minh Quan and Nguyen Van Truong, the lay custodian of Bai Dinh Pagoda, donated a sum of US$ 20,000 as a contribution to the economic relief efforts in Sri Lanka.
A dansal was also organized on the Pagoda premises, which was a novel experience for the more than 300 Vietnamese Buddhist worshippers who gathered at the Pagoda. Sanjaya Lakpathirana, Director, Linea Aqua Viet Nam and the staff contributed to the dansal.
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