(VOVworld) – A photo exhibition called “Insights into Sri Lanka Buddhist Culture” took place at Hanoi’s Quan Su pagoda from June 18-20. Co-organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the exhibition aimed at introducing something about Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Buddhism, and the lives of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks so that Vietnamese people as well as Vietnamese Buddhists get to know  more about the Sri Lankan Buddhism culture. The photo exhibition was held on the occasion of the annual Sri Lankan Poson festival held on the 15^th day of the 5^th lunar month every year in Sri Lanka. The festival celebrates the time when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka from the 3^rd century BC by monk Mihindu, the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka.

VOV captured some moments at the photo exhibition’s opening ceremony on June 18. 

On display were about 40 black and white photographs, framed posters and prints. They are arranged along Quan Su pagoda’s lobby.

The black and white photos were shot by Mr. Takashi Koguchi - a freelance photographer who visited Sri Lanka twice in 1992 and 1993 for a period of a month each time.

Black and white photos, with captions in both Vietnamese and English, depict the lives of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka, which is very peaceful and close to nature.

One of the stunning photos at the exhibition.

The Kandy Esala Perahera festival in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, an offering and praying ceremony was conducted by the organizers and representatives in front of the Three Jewels in the Pagoda.

Ms. Hasanthi Dissanayake, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam introduced the photo exhibition.

The event was attended by many Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's dignitaries, together with Sri Lankan embassy members and the Sri Lankan community in Hanoi.

Participants then in turn burned candles – a traditional Sri Lankan custom at important events.

A visitor, painter Van Duong Thanh expressed her sentiments to the photos on display.