Deeply imbued with Buddhist elements, this folk festival is a unique part of local community’s cultural life and reflects their efforts to preserve fine traditional values.
It is also an occasion for Buddhist followers and the people in general to pray for peace and compassion.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Da Nang Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen emphasised that the special national site of Ngu Hanh Son is not only a natural marvel endowed to Da Nang but is also closely connected with the spiritual lives of the city’s residents.
By combining Buddhist values with the culture of local residents, the festival has always been an attractive destination for visitors from other places in Vietnam and around the world.
Taking place from March 8-10, the festival features a wide range of cultural, artistic, religious and sporting activities, with the central activity being a ritual celebrating the birth of Avalokiteshvara, who is known for her mercy and compassion.
As part of the festival, there will be a presentation on the value of the Ngu Hanh Son cliff inscriptions, which have recently been recognised by UNESCO as a documentary heritage in the Memory of the World programme for Asia and the Pacific.
Other activities include a stone sculpture competition, demonstrations of kite flying and hot-air balloons, a parade of flower floats, and the opening of the Van Hanh Library with over 30,000 publications on Buddhism and culture.
