The Ministry of Culture in Vietnam has inaugurated a vibrant exhibition titled "Vesak 2025" at the HanhTm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the United Nations Day of Vesak. The event aims to highlight Buddhism's various traditions through stunning performances and displays of culture from Sangha members across different countries including India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, among others. Senior representatives participated in a "Bathing the Buddha Ceremony" during the inauguration.
The exhibitions feature multiple aspects such as digital displays of Jataka tales, sculptures of various forms of the Buddha, and a comparative study of Buddhist artifacts from India and Vietnam. The multimedia approach intends to provide insight into the evolution, impact, and integration of Buddhism on art, spirituality, and culture in Vietnam. Additionally, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will host three more exhibitions focusing on disseminating Buddha Dhamma.
One highlight includes a digital restoration of Ajanta Cave murals, with a focus on Bodhisattva Padmapani from Cave 1 of the Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra. Displaying the mural process digitally offers an in-depth look at India's Gupta dynasty's classical art tradition.
The exhibition also included a ceremonial enshrinement, veneration, and worship of sacred relics that will be moving through several notable Vietnamese sites as part of Southern Vietnam’s national spiritual pilgrimage and headquarters of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha until their final resting place at the largest Buddhist center in Southeast Asia.
Overall, the event marks an amalgamation of cultural heritage, religious practices, international fellowship, and traditional art forms from diverse Buddhist communities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The governmental department responsible for cultural affairs, possibly overseeing exhibitions and public events.
HanhTm Monastery: An establishment within Ho Chi Minh City where a religious ceremony was held and an exhibition inaugurated.
Ho Chi Minh City: A city in Vietnam that hosted the inauguration event of the vibrant exhibition on Buddha Dhamma.
Vietnam Buddhist Academy: A location where an aspect of the exhibition was showcased, focusing on Buddhist traditions as part of Vietnamese culture.
United Nations Day of Vesak UNDV2025: An international observance commemorated in Vietnam with a display of Buddha Dhamma and cultural practices.
International Buddhist Confederation (IBC): An organization that conducted exhibitions on disseminating Buddha Dhamma from India to Vietnam, highlighting different forms of the Buddha, Jataka tales, and comparative studies of Buddhist artifacts.
Buddha: A historical figure and central figure in Buddhism, associated with many cultural practices commemorated during the exhibition.
Ajanta Cave murals: Cultural artworks found within the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, featuring digital restoration display as part of an exhibition.
Bodhisattva Padmapani: A mural painting dating from the late 5th century, also mentioned to be featured on a digital restoration process.
Ajanta Caves: Historical sites in Maharashtra, India, recognized for their rich cultural heritage and significance in the arts of India's Gupta dynasty.
The Prasad Pawar Foundation of Nasik: A collaborative partner with the International Buddhist Confederation in the exhibition of digital restoration processes.
HanhTm Monastery, Ben Mountain, QunS Monastery, Tam Chc Monastery: Religious sites and pilgrimage paths where sacred relics are enshrined and venerated during the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Vietnam.
Ministry of Culture
Vibrant Exhibition on Buddha Dhamma inaugurated
at HanhTâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 9:29PM by PIB Delhi
To mark the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV-2025) a vibrant exhibition on Buddha Dhamma was
inaugurated today at Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing the various aspects of
Buddhist traditions. The inauguration of the exhibition of Vietnamese culture dazzled with pomp and
tradition, featuring stunning performances and heartfelt unity. Participation of Sangha members from India,
Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, and beyond reflected a true celebration of shared
heritage and spiritual harmony. Senior Sangha members participated in "Bathing the Buddha Ceremony"
during the inauguration of the UNDV 2025 Exhibition.International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) also be hosting three exhibitions on the dissemination of Buddha
Dhamma and its cultural practices from India to Vietnam. These are an electronic display of Jataka tales,
sculptures depicting different forms of the Buddha and also a comparative study of Buddhist artefacts from
India and Vietnam. The analysis draws on a variety of resources to deepen understanding of this rich cultural
exchange, including epigraphic inscriptions, historical texts, and visual artifacts. This multifaceted approach
aims to provide a comprehensive narrative of the evolution of Buddha Dhamma in Vietnam, reflecting its
profound impact on art, spirituality, and cultural identity throughout history. The highlight is a display of the
digital restoration of the Ajanta Cave murals, illuminating the ancient JatakaKathas.
The IBC, in collaboration with the Prasad Pawar Foundation of Nasik will unveil 8 panels and exhibit
on separate TV screens showcasing the digital restoration process of the famous Bodhisattva
Padmapani, a mural painting dating from the late 5th century. The mural is in Cave 1 of the Ajanta
Caves, Maharashtra, and it reflects the beauty and classical sophistication of the arts of India's
Gupta dynasty. The exhibition invites visitors to walk among visions of Bodhisattvas and celestial
beings, as ancient narratives gently unfold. These tales remind us that compassion knows no
borders, wisdom belongs to all, and peace is born from the shared dignity of every living being.The sacred Relics ceremoniously enshrined, venerated, and worshiped at the HanhTâm Monastery in Ho Chi
Minh City till May 8th, 2025, coinciding with the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025. Next at the BàĐen
Mountain, TâyNinh Province from May 9th to 13th, 2025 (Southern Vietnam’s national spiritual pilgrimage
site), from here the sacred Relic will be placed for exposition at QuánSứ Monastery, Hanoi from May 14th to
18, 2025 (Headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha), and finally at Tam Chúc Monastery, Hà Nam
Province from May 18th to 21st, 2025, the largest Buddhist center in Southeast Asia.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2127176)