Hanoi’s Thousandth Year Celebrated in Buddhist Week

Hanoi, Vietnam (CHAKRA) —A weeklong Buddhist celebration was held in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam to celebrate Hanoi’s one thousandth year.

Vietnam’s Buddhist Sangha’s Deputy Chairman, the General Secretary and Venerable Thich Thien Nhon delivered an opening speech to at the commencement of the week and acknowledged the important roles of Vietnamese Buddhists in the country’s history of national construction and defence.

One of the ceremonies held was for King Ly Thai To, the founder of Hanoi for whom a special incense was burned.  The same was done in honour of other Kings and Monks.

Many dignitaries were present at the opening celebration including Venerable Thich Pho Tue, the Patriarch of the Sangha Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in addition to other authorities of the Foreign Ministry and city.

In honour of the Buddhist historical celebration, Buddhist Sangha central committee presented 25 charity houses to the disadvantaged community in addition to granting 500 scholarships to poor students in Hanoi.

The week lasted until August 2 and included a procession of tablets that belonged to King Ly Thai To and Van Hanh who is a Buddhist monk that raised the King after his mother had passed away.

Another ceremony will also be held on July 29 to pray for peace and the people as well as a requiem for fallen combatants will be held on July 31^st.