The 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak (Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away) will be held at Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh from May 7-11, 2014, announced the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hanoi.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said that the 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak will be hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in collaboration with the International Council for the Day of Vesak.
The international Buddhism conference will also take place during the event.
This is the second time that Vietnam will host the United Nations Day of Vesak after the 5th United Nations Day of Vesak which was organized for the first time in Hanoi in 2008.
The event is a valuable opportunity for Buddhist communities to propagate Buddha’s message of mercy and peace throughout the world.
The United Nations Day of Vesak is expected to attract about 10,000 participants, including 1,500 international guests from some 100 countries and territories worldwide and 8,500 local Buddhists and visitors.
The event themed ‘Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals’ will include seminars on Buddhists response to sustainable development and social change; global warming and environmental protection; healthy living; peace-building and post-conflict recovery; Buddhist education and university level curriculum.
