A vibrant and soul-stirring exhibition on Buddha Dhamma was inaugurated at the HanhTâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, marking the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025. Hosted at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, the event brought together spiritual leaders, scholars, and visitors from across Asia in a heartfelt celebration of Buddhist philosophy, culture, and shared heritage.
The ceremony opened with traditional Vietnamese fanfare, dazzling the gathering with performances that reflected the depth and elegance of the country’s spiritual and cultural roots. The presence of Sangha members from India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, and other nations emphasized the unity and harmony that bind Buddhist communities across borders. A sacred “Bathing the Buddha” ritual set the tone for the commemorations, embodying reverence and peace.
Adding to the richness of the event, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) has curated three major exhibitions that trace the journey of Buddha Dhamma from India to Vietnam. These include a digital presentation of Jataka tales, intricate sculptures of Buddha’s many forms, and a comparative display of artefacts from both nations. Through a thoughtful blend of epigraphic inscriptions, historical texts, and visual storytelling, the exhibition offers a deeply moving exploration of the spiritual and artistic evolution of Buddhism in the region.
A major highlight of the exhibition is the digital restoration of the ancient murals of Ajanta Caves in India, with a special focus on the iconic Bodhisattva Padmapani. In collaboration with the Prasad Pawar Foundation of Nasik, eight exquisite panels now showcase the painstaking process of restoring this 5th-century masterpiece from the Gupta era. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in these restored images, which capture timeless messages of compassion, wisdom, and peace — values that continue to inspire across generations and geographies.
As part of the commemorations, sacred Relics of the Buddha will be ceremoniously enshrined at multiple spiritual sites across Vietnam. They will remain at the HanhTâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City until May 8, before being moved to BàĐen Mountain in TâyNinh Province, then to QuánSứ Monastery in Hanoi, and finally to Tam Chúc Monastery in Hà Nam Province — Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist center. This spiritual journey of the Relics across Vietnam stands as a profound reminder of the enduring influence of the Buddha’s teachings and their power to unite people in hope, faith, and shared human dignity.