Context: 

The United Nations is set to celebrate the 20th Day of the Vesak on 12th May, uniting people from all walks of life in honor of the Buddha’s teachings.

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The theme for the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) 2025 is "Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development". 

This theme will be the focus of the 20th UNDV Celebrations, which is being hosted in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam.

A vibrant exhibition on Buddha Dhamma was inaugurated at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) 2025.

The sacred Relics were displayed at Hanh Tâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City until May 8, 2025, during the UN Day of Vesak. 

They will then move to Bà Đen Mountain in Tây Ninh from May 9 to 13, a key spiritual site. 

Next, they will be shown at Quán Sứ Monastery in Hanoi from May 14 to 18, and finally at Tam Chúc Monastery in Hà Nam from May 18 to 21, the largest Buddhist center in Southeast Asia.

The exhibition showcased diverse aspects of Buddhist traditions, reflecting cultural richness and spiritual depth.

The inauguration of the Vietnamese cultural exhibition featured:

• Traditional performances
• Ceremonial pomp 
• Expressions of unity and harmony

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Senior members performed the “Bathing the Buddha Ceremony” during the inauguration of the exhibition.

The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is also hosting three significant exhibitions focusing on the spread of the Buddha Dhamma from India to Vietnam:

• Electronic Display of Jataka Tales
• Sculptures Depicting Various Forms of the Buddha
• Comparative Study of Buddhist Artefacts from India and Vietnam.

For the first time, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), will showcase the sacred Buddha Relic from Sarnath in Vietnam during the UN Day of Vesak 2025 celebrations.

Vesak

• It is rooted in the ancient lunar month of Vesākha, and is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of May.
• The Buddha was born on the Day of Vesak in the year 623 B.C., over two and a half millennia ago.
• Buddha attained enlightenment on the Day of Vesak, and also passed away on this sacred day.
• According to the Mahavamsa chronicle, it is believed that Vesak has been introduced from Sri Lanka, where the festival was instituted around 2,100 years ago during the reign of King Dutthagamani.

The United Nations Day of Vesak 

• On December 15, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 54/115, for global recognition of the Day of Vesak as an international observance.
• The day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices.
• Since its recognition, sixteen Buddhist countries have collaborated to organise activities on the Day of Vesak at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, starting from the year 2000.