More than 5,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and followers in the city and southern provinces attended the opening ceremony of the three-day service, which is being organised by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and a delegation from the France-based Lang Mai Pagoda led by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council and Chairman of the HCM City Sangha's Executive Board, and Zen Master Hanh expressed their hope that the service will help foster the nation's traditional spiritual values and bring happiness to the entire population. They also hoped that Buddhist followers will take this occasion to pay gratitude to their ancestors, pray for the soul of the deceased and offer sympathy to unfortunate people.

According to the HCM City Buddhist Sangha, 200 scholarships worth VND500,000 each and 200 gifts worth VND250,000 each will be granted to poor students and poor families at the closing ceremony of the service.

All donated money and offerings at the service will be presented to Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities.

Two similar services will be held at Dieu De Pagoda in the former imperial city of Hue from April 2-4 and at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi’s Soc Son district from April 20-22.

VOVNews/VNA