On the afternoon of March 24, the Interdisciplinary Task Force for the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 held its second meeting at the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The meeting focused on guiding and assisting the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in organizing the celebration.

The meeting was chaired by Nguyen Hai Trung, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Head of the Task Force, alongside Duong Ngoc Hai, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and Deputy Head of the Task Force.

With just over a month remaining until the grand event, the meeting aimed to accelerate the preparation process. This year’s Vesak celebration, themed “Unity and Compassion for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for Global Peace and Sustainable Development,” will take place from April 28 to May 8, with the main event commencing on May 6 at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Preceding the main celebration, the Buddhist Cultural Festival will open on April 28, followed by welcome performances from May 3 to May 5.

The cultural festival will be inaugurated on May 5, while the Vesak 2025 symposium will take place on May 7, and the grand celebration will conclude on May 8.

According to the organizing committee, 80 countries and 5 territories are expected to participate in the event, with a total of 616 delegations from Buddhist organizations and 1,200 international delegates (including 400 official delegates and 800 self-funded participants).

Notable attendees include Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Cambodian Minister of Faith and Religion Chay Borin, and Bhutan’s Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo.

To date, the organizing committee has received over 900 papers submitted for the Vesak symposium, including 330 Vietnamese-language papers and 578 English-language papers.

A significant highlight of Vesak 2025 is the first-time display of the Buddha’s authentic relics, transported from India to Vietnam and enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda (Phat Co Don Pagoda) in Binh Chanh District. Additionally, the indestructible heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc will be displayed at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in District 10, allowing monks, nuns, and Buddhists to pay their respects.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hai Trung praised the valuable experience the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has gained from organizing three previous Vesak celebrations. He emphasized the importance of conducting Vesak 2025 with grandeur and solemnity, fulfilling the event’s goals while prioritizing security and safety for international delegates.

He also instructed relevant agencies to meticulously review all preparations and ensure that implementation proceeds according to plan. Additionally, he urged increased coordination and support to create the most favorable conditions for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in executing the event.

Luu Dinh Long