Starting from 5 pm, large crowds lined both banks of the Nhieu Loc–Thi Nghe Canal in front of the pagoda, awaiting the annual lantern-releasing ritual, a cherished tradition in Vietnamese Buddhism.
Vesak, one of the most important Buddhist festivals, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. The ceremony drew people from all walks of life who came to pray for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of humanity.
“This is a beautiful spiritual tradition,” said one young woman, who shared that her family visits Phap Hoa Pagoda every year on Buddha’s Birthday to release flower lanterns.
This year, the pagoda prepared 6,000 lanterns for distribution to Buddhist followers. Despite the crowds, the atmosphere remained joyful and serene.
Ngoc Nhi, a four-year-old attendee, beamed with excitement as she experienced the event for the first time.
“It was crowded, but everyone was smiling and happily waiting for their turn,” said 20-year-old Truong Thi My Quyen.
Due to space limitations, only visitors with advance registration were allowed inside the pagoda. Others gathered respectfully outside the premises to join the celebration from afar.
To ensure order and safety, especially given the single access point to the canal, attendees were not permitted to release lanterns directly into the water. Instead, volunteers collected the lanterns and released them on behalf of the participants.