The Quan The Am (Avalokiteśvara) Ngu Hanh Son Festival 2025 will take place from March 16 to 19 (17^th to 20^th days of the second lunar month), with many diverse and rich programmes and activities.

The Quan The Am (Avalokiteśvara) Festival attracts tens of thousands of Buddhists, locals and tourists. Photo: XUAN DUNG

Spreading message of love

According to the organisers, this year's festival will feature a host of rich and diverse cultural, artistic, sports, belief and religious activities, promising to attract a large number of Buddhist followers, locals and tourists at both home and abroad.

Specifically, the opening ceremony of the festival will take place at 5:30 pm on March 16. A ceremony in commemoration of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva will be held at 7:00 am on March 18. The heart of the ceremony will gather tens of thousands of participants, with the desire to spread a powerful message of compassion and unity as they pray for national peace and happiness.

Mr. Ta Tu Binh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ngu Hanh Son District cum Deputy Head of the festival’s organizing board, said that the main ceremony will be broadcast live on the Da Nang Radio and Television Station. Additionally, the festival will feature an incense offering ceremony to commemorate Princess Huyen Tran, and a spring worship ceremony to pray for national peace and prosperity. There will be some religious and belief activities, including youth camping programmes, Dharma talks, meditation sessions, and sacred prayer rituals organised by the Quan The Am Pagoda.

“In particular, this year’s festival will have two meaningful activities: the Peace Walk program with the participation of representatives of more than 300 agencies and organisations citywide, and foreign consulates in the city, and a talk show on the influence of Buddhism in the ‘ma nhai’ (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains scenic spot. These are truly practical activities to promote the value and elevate the scale of the Quan The Am Festival - a National Intangible Cultural Heritage”, Mr. Binh emphasised.

On the occasion, the organising board will organise a closing and awards ceremony for the art photography contest themed “Quan Am - Festival season”, and a painting contest and live performance of drawings and sketches about the Quan The Am Festival.

A book presentation contest entitled “Literature with Buddhism”; a fine art exhibition of lotus paintings painted in oil by artist Kim Chi Hoang; and an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and calligraphy will open during the festival. The special journal of Dieu Am Quan The Am Festival in 2025 will made its debut, whilst a parade of flower-decorated vehicles will be organised to advertise the festival and celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Liberation of Da Nang (March 29, 1975 - March 29, 2025).

Many unique cultural and artistic programmes

This year’s festival will feature an array of unique cultural and artistic activities such as the art programme organised by the Trung Vuong Theater, performances of works from the ‘Dieu Am’ Special Journal and Traditional Thai Dance, and art programmes performed by the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of the city.

In addition, there will be ‘bai choi’, calligraphy and traditional music performances; a photo exhibition on Marble Mountains and ‘ma nhai’ ghost mountain; lion and dragon dance performances, bamboo dance, and "Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine" space.

Photographer Quang Ba Hai, Head of the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists in Da Nang, said that the association will organise an exhibition with the theme "Quan Am - Festival season" at the Quan The Am Pagoda. The association is currently waiting for photo approval and an exhibition license.

As a Buddhist who has participated in the calligraphy activities at the Quan The Am Festival for many years, Ms. Huynh Doan Vy, residing in Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, excitedly said "This year, the Chieu Nhan Calligraphy Club asked the abbot of the Quan The Am Pagoda to arrange a space for calligraphy. The club members will give Han Nom characters, and I will give Vietnamese characters in calligraphy. To prepare for this event, I have practiced writing for a long time, so I feel very happy and pleased to be welcomed by Buddhists".

Aside from the abovementioned activities, a traditional boat race, a village flag festival, a tug of war competition, and a relay race on stilts promise to bring excitement to festival-goers. One of the highlights of the festival will be the Olympic Run Day for Public Health in 2025.

To ensure security and order, traffic safety, environmental sanitation, fire prevention and fighting, and food hygiene and safety, the festival organisers strictly implement the "5 nos" criteria: no theft, robbery and social evils; no itinerant beggars; no littering, no violations of food hygiene and safety; no tourist harassment, price gouging; and no release of animals and superstitious activities; thereby contributing to organising a unique, safe and civilised festival.

Reporting by DOAN HAO LUONG - Translating by M.DUNG