The Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival, one of the most eagerly anticipated spiritual cultural events for Buddhists and non- Buddhists across from Da Nang and elsewhere in the country will be held at the namesake pagoda inside the Marble Mountains tourist area from 22 until 24 March.

A scene of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue procession, which is the most eagerly anticipated ritual during the Quan The Am Festival.

This year’s 3-day event will feature a number of solemn Buddhist rituals and a wide range of exciting cultural activities within the framework of the festival, hereby facilitating visitors gain an deeper insight into Buddhist culture and types of the traditional arts, as well as join in cultural exchanges with international friends, especially those from Buddhist countries.

On 22 March, the opening day of the festival, visitors will enjoy exhibitions of paintings and photos and calligraphies, as well as admire a total of 500 artifacts on display at the Buddhist Cultural Museum highlighting the development of Buddhist culture through many different historical periods.

Also, a total of 100 artifacts, antiques, and images from the Museum of Da Nang on the scenic beauty of the Marble Mountains will be display at the festival.

An incense-offering ritual in commemoration of Princess Huyen Tran, ceremonies to pray for peace and safety throughout the year, and to pay tribute to those who founded the Non Nuoc stone carving handicraft will take place.

In particular, the visitors to the festival will be treated to a performance of Nabijum, South Korea’s intangible cultural heritage, and ‘bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards).

The visiting South Korean Buddhist delegation will donate a version of Maitreya Buddha, a national treasure, to the Quan The Am Pagoda.

Noticeably, a ceremony to announce the national record for Viet Nam’s largest sitting jade Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at the namesake pagoda. The statue is carved from a nephrite boulder weighing 18 tonnes discovered in the north of Vancouver, Canada, in 2000.

Notable amongst the main activities held on 23 March will be the debut of the statues of the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Van Hanh and Princess Huyen Tran.

Buddhist cultural exchanges between Viet Nam and South Korean, and such Japanese arts performances as calligraphy, Ikebana flower arrangement arts and tea ceremonies is expected to bring exciting experiences to the visitors.

As for solemn Buddhist rituals on 24 March, the last day of the festival, on the spotlight will be the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue procession, which is the most eagerly anticipated ritual during the Quan The Am Festival. It is expected to attract a large number of Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers, along with non-believers in the city and other localities nationwide, plus visitors from both home and abroad.

Besides, the floating of flower garlands and coloured lanterns on a river, a photo exhibition about the Marble Mountains, a traditional boat race, and a fascinating martial arts performance will be anticipated to draw public attention.