The Supreme Elder, Most Venerable Chairman of the Executive Council and head of the organizing committee for the United Nations Vesak 2025, stated that preparations are now 80% complete following an on-site inspection of the event venue.

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Presentation of the stage design for the candlelight peace prayer ceremony at the lotus lake in front of the main hall of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dang Huy

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Vice Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Certification Council and Chairman of the Executive Council, recently visited the Vietnam Buddhist Academy’s second campus in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, to review and oversee preparations for the upcoming international Buddhist celebration.

According to reports from the organizing committee, infrastructure, equipment, and facilities for the event are being rapidly completed, with full readiness expected by mid-April 2025.

This year’s Vesak celebration is expected to welcome more heads of state than previous editions, along with top leaders from various Buddhist organizations and scholars from 80 countries and territories who have officially registered to attend in Vietnam.

The international academic conference, a key component of the celebration, has already received 604 research papers - 384 in English and 220 in Vietnamese.

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Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon (center) inspects the preparations for the United Nations Vesak 2025, which will be hosted by Vietnam in May. Photo: Dang Huy

Significant ceremonies during the event will include:

The procession of sacred relics from India to be enshrined at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, the main venue of the celebration.

The formal welcome ceremony for distinguished delegates on the opening day.

Three days of sutra chanting ceremonies.

A grand requiem and candlelight prayer for world peace.

Approximately 5,000 volunteers will assist in organizing the event, including 500 university students, 800 monks and nuns from the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, and thousands of Buddhist laypeople. All volunteers are undergoing specialized training and will be assigned to specific teams.

Medical and culinary preparations are also being meticulously arranged to accommodate over 2,500 delegates and hundreds of thousands of Buddhist participants.

During his visit, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon urged the organizing committees to adhere closely to the schedule and ensure meticulous execution of all plans.

“The Central Buddhist Sangha will mobilize all resources to ensure a solemn, meaningful, and successful Vesak celebration,” he affirmed.

Luu Dinh Long