By Ciara Mina
As part of the United Nations’ Day of Vesak celebrations for 2025, thousands of delegates will gather at Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, to light candles and offer prayers for world peace.
The event, one of the most important on the international cultural calendar, is set to take place between 6 and 8 May under the theme of “Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development”.
Ba Den Mountain is one of the few locations in Vietnam that houses Buddha relics.
About 2,000 delegates from 80 nations and territories are anticipated to visit Vietnam, including heads of state, supreme Buddhist leaders, presidents of Buddhist organisations, UN representatives, and a large number of academics and intellectuals from around the world.
UN Day of Vesak honours humanistic principles, world peace
Peace is one of the most significant themes at this year’s Vesak, according to the Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit of Thailand.
“With Ba Den Mountain, I can feel the essence of ‘peace’ through the Buddhist spirit and the presence of the Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, a symbol of joy and serenity. This sacred mountain allows one to immerse in nature, share tranquillity with others, and spread the spirit and message of world peace in practice,” the Most Venerable stated.
According to him, peace can be interpreted as mental tranquility, which is a basic prerequisite for social stability, world peace, and the discovery of tranquility in the natural world.
The International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV) president further emphasised that this is not only a theoretical concept but a practical illustration of how we may grow economically and live in harmony without endangering the environment or hurting other people.
For that reason, people might find peace and healing in a holy spiritual location like Ba Den Mountain, which is brimming with positivity.
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Schedule of activities
In addition to numerous parallel events, delegates have agreed on a number of central aspects of the UN Vesak 2025 programme.
Leaders of Buddhist sanghas from various nations will be welcomed on the first day, while scholars – especially new academics – will engage in a series of group lectures on five important subtopics on the second day.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for the morning of the third day, whereafter delegates and revered monks will visit Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh in the afternoon.
More than 2,000 Vesak representatives from 80 nations and territories will then participate in a sombre candlelight prayer service for world peace at the top of Ba Den Mountain.
“Hosting the Vesak 2025 delegation for the world peace candlelight prayer ceremony is a tremendous honour for the Ba Den Mountain tourist area,” said Deputy General Director of Sun Group in the Southern region Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy.
“On May 8, we will also hold special ceremonies to welcome the delegation during this grand Buddhist event, including a bodhi tree planting ceremony and the enshrinement of Buddha relics for Buddhists and the public to pay homage.”
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