On the final day of the Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival, an official Buddhist ritual took place on Thursday morning at the Quan The Am Pagoda in the Ngu Hanh Son/Marble Mountains area.  The event attracted thousands of Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers, along with local residents and visitors.

The participants together reviewed the origins and significance of Quan The Am’s birthday (the 19^th day of the 2^nd lunar month).  Following that, a number of traditional Buddhist rituals were held, along with a ceremony to pray for peace and safety throughout the year, and a balloon release to pray for peace for the people and the country.

The Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue procession, which is the most eagerly anticipated event during the Quan The Am Festival, drew large crowds of locals and visitors.

Addressing the event, the Deputy Head of the city’s Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Chi Man, said that Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most important and popular Buddhist dieties for Buddhist followers and residents.  He spoke highly of the humanitarian significance of the Quan The Am Festival in educating human beings towards love and the good things in life.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Chairwoman of the Ngu Hanh Son District People’s Committee, said that the Festival not only satisfies the religious beliefs of Buddhist followers, but it has also become a special tourism product of the Ngu Hanh Son/Marble Mountains area.  It has helped to preserve and promote the traditional Vietnamese cultural identity.

After the rituals, visitors to the Festival had the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of exciting cultural activities.  There was a traditional boat race on the Co Co River, themed ‘Doat Co Lenh- Ruoc Huyen Tran Cong Chua’ (Snatching the Command Flag - Picking up Princess Huyen Tran).  The 4 teams competing were from Lien Chieu District, Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Lien Commune, and Ngu Hanh Son District’s Hoa Hai and Khue My wards. 

The winning team, Lien Chieu District, had the honour of replaying the scene ‘Taking Princess Huyen Tran to Dai Viet Capital’.  The race aims were to educate the participants and visitors about a historical event relating to the Tran Dynasty, and to promote the spirit of sport.

Here are some photos, taken by our reporter Ngoc Ha, of the final day of the Festival.

Thousands of visitors, Buddhist followers and local residents praying for peace

The welcome ceremony for a visiting delegation from Thailand

A dance to offer flowers to Avalokitesvara

A ceremony to pray for peace and safety throughout the year

Re-creating the image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

The traditional boat race

The winning Lien Chieu District team (in blue)

A scene depicting taking Princess Huyen Tran to Dai Viet Capital on the Co Co River