Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha(VBS) Central Committee held a solemn ceremony to mark the 2561st birthday of Lord Buddha in Hanoi on May 10.

The event was attended by Head of the PartyCentral Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, delegatesfrom the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and several foreignambassadors and representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, among others.

Addressing the ceremony, Standing Vice Chairmanof the VBS Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu read the messageof the VBS Supreme Patriarch toall Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers at home and abroad on theoccasion.

The message says the festival returns when allBuddhist followers, monks and nuns nationwide are making concerted efforts tosuccessfully organise the 8th National Buddhist Congress for the 2017-2022tenure.

The sustainable development of the VBS at alllevels lays the solid foundation for the religion, promoting the VietnameseBuddhism’s spirit of “safeguarding the country, bringing peace to the people”.

The Supreme Patriarch expressed his wish thatevery monk, nun and Buddhist follower, and members of the VBS will enhancetheir sense of responsibility and fulfill their obligations under the motto:Intelligence – discipline – integration – development, contributing to thegrowth of the VBS.

Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, Vice Chairman ofthe VBS Executive Council, delivered a speech, expressing his hope that monks,nuns, and Buddhist followers at home and abroad will make greater efforts tocomplete the tasks in the seventh term of the VBS while developing morerelevant orientations for the VBS’s operation during the eighth and comingterms until 2030 in the context of the nation’s reform and internationalintegration.

For her part, Head of the Party CentralCommittee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai affirmed that Buddhismhas accompanied the nation for thousands of years, and become deeply rooted inthe nation.

The Party, the State and people have alwaysvalued the contributions the VBS has made to the nation, Mai reiterated.

She expressed her hope that dignitaries willcontinue to set good examples and encourage monks, nuns and followers to lead agood religious life, observe the policies and laws of the State, fulfill theircitizen duties, and live in harmony with other religions and non-religiouspeople for the goal of a rich people, a strong country, a democratic,equitable and civilized society.

Mai also expressed her belief that the VBS willcontinue promoting the Buddhism spirit and values while serving as a bridge toconnect overseas Vietnamese Buddhist followers and organisations and those athome to contribute to the nation’s building and protection.

Mai called on authorities at all levels willcontinue facilitating Buddhist activities, ensuring freedom and a stableenvironment for religious practice.

On the occasion, the VBS Central Committeecoordinated with State agencies to release one tonne of small fish into the Redriver in Hanoi.-VNA