The large-scale sacred rituals will be jointly hosted by the International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV) and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), aligned with the theme of this year’s celebration: “Harmony and Inclusion for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development.”
Shakyamuni Buddha’s Relics Procession from the National Museum of India
For the first time in history, India’s national treasure will be ceremoniously brought to Ba Den Mountain for Buddhist devotees and visitors to pay homage. The relics, contained in a casket discovered by British archaeologist William Claxton Peppé in 1898 at the base of an ancient stupa in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, were later authenticated through inscriptions on the lid to be the original relics of the Historical Buddha. This discovery marked a turning point in Buddhist history, providing concrete archaeological evidence that Shakyamuni Buddha was a historical figure—an assertion long debated and sometimes denied.
In 1997, the Thai Buddhist community commissioned and offered a gold-plated stupa, with its pinnacle made of 109 grams of solid gold, to enshrine the relics. For centuries, these sacred relics have been revered as one of humanity’s spiritual treasures, attracting pilgrimages and devout practices such as walking meditation and chanting by global Buddhist communities.
The relics will be escorted to Ba Den Mountain in a solemn procession led by senior Vietnam Buddhist Sangha dignitaries, international Buddhist delegations, government representatives, and Vesak 2025 delegates. Atop the highest peak in Southern Vietnam, the relics will be enshrined at the Buddhist Exhibition Center from 8–13 May 2025, allowing the public and Buddhist devotees to offer their respects and receive blessings from this sacred object of the Buddhist world.
The journey of the Buddha’s relics from the National Museum of New Delhi—the cradle of Buddhism—to Vietnam is not only a momentous religious event but also a profound spiritual opportunity for Buddhists and visitors alike to cultivate merit, pray for national peace and global harmony, and wish happiness for all sentient beings.
108 Bodhi Trees Planting ceremony
Following the relics procession, a ceremony of planting 108 Bodhi trees will take place in the Bodhi Garden atop Ba Den Mountain. This ritual will be conducted by eminent monastics and leaders of Buddhist delegations from 80 countries. This special Bodhi Garden, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, will feature a tree for each participating nation—leaving a lasting symbol of Vesak 2025 on the sacred mountain.
In Buddhist tradition, it was under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, that Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. As such, the Bodhi tree holds deep spiritual significance, symbolizing awakening, wisdom, peace, and protection.
The number 108 is also sacred in Buddhism, representing the 108 defilements of the human mind. The practice of Dharma is the path to overcoming these defilements and reaching the shore of liberation. The planting of 108 Bodhi trees at Ba Den Mountain signifies the sowing of seeds of enlightenment, the nurturing of compassion and wisdom, and offers a space for practitioners and visitors to find inner peace on this sacred summit.
The Ba Den Bodhi Garden is envisioned as a place of mindfulness, harmony, and spiritual awakening—a lasting symbol of world peace and sustainable development held on the highest mountain in Southern Vietnam. It will offer visitors a tranquil space for m
Candlelight ceremony for world peace
In the evening of 8 May 2025, the Candlelight Ceremony for World Peace will be solemnly held at Tay Bo Da Son Square, a vast open space atop Ba Den Mountain. This event will see senior monastics and spiritual leaders from across the world light thousands of candles representing the light of wisdom, compassion, and the collective aspiration for a peaceful and harmonious world.
Each candle lit will serve as a heartfelt prayer—for the end of war, conflict, poverty, and suffering; for the well-being of all living beings; and for a world filled with peace, happiness, and loving-kindness.
Amid the sacred atmosphere of the mountain and the glowing light of thousands of candles, the resonant chants of prayers will generate a powerful spiritual energy, radiating a message of peace, unity, and compassion. More than a religious ritual, this ceremony is a profound cultural and humanistic expression of the Vietnamese people’s and global Buddhists’ shared yearning for peace.
The special series of spiritual events on 8 May 2025 will not only establish Ba Den Mountain and Tay Ninh as a new global destination for pilgrimage, but also help to amplify Viet Nam’s image as a land of peace and spiritual hospitality.
