Vu Lan Festival, also known as Vu Lan Bao Hieu, is one of the important traditional festivals in Buddhist culture, taking place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month every year. This festival not only has profound spiritual significance but also carries deep humanistic and cultural values.
Remembering Ancestors and Showing Gratitude to Parents
Vu Lan Festival is an occasion for people to express gratitude and remember their ancestors, grandparents, and parents. According to legend, during this time, activities such as offerings, worship, and burning incense at temples are performed to pray for the souls of ancestors and the deceased to be liberated and enjoy peace. This is also a time for children to show filial piety to their parents, helping and caring for them as a way to repay the kindness of giving birth and raising them.
Journey of Purity and Repentance
Vu Lan Festival is also a time for Buddhists to practice spiritual purification and repentance. Participating in charitable activities, making offerings and volunteering helps reduce bad karma and creates opportunities to cultivate morality. This is also a time for each person to review their behavior and lifestyle, thereby adjusting and improving to become better.
Honoring Buddhist Teachings
The Vu Lan Festival celebrates the Buddhist teachings of filial piety, love, and compassion. According to Buddhist legend, Maudgalyayana’s mother was tormented in the underworld, and the Bodhisattva relied on offerings and chanting to rescue her. The Vu Lan Festival thus emphasizes the importance of practicing these virtues in daily life.
Promoting Compassion and Kindness
The festival also encourages people to show compassion and kindness not only towards their parents and ancestors but also towards those around them, especially the poor and needy. Through charitable activities such as gift giving, relief, and community support, people show their concern and sharing with those less fortunate.
Community Engagement
Vu Lan Festival is also an occasion for families, friends and communities to gather and share with each other. Community activities, festivals and chanting sessions often take place during this time, creating opportunities for people to bond and maintain common cultural traditions.
