 An art performance during the special art exchange entitled “Filial Piety and the Sacred Soul of the Nation” (Photo: Vinh Phong/VOV5) |
The Vu Lan Festival, observed solemnly on the full moon of the seventh lunar month, is a sacred occasion honoring filial devotion. It carries profound meaning, celebrating maternal love, gratitude, and the enduring moral values of family and community.
The program underscored five core aspects of filial piety in modern life. They are filial piety-spiritual origin; Respect-complete affection; Courtesy-cultural lifestyle; Loyalty-faithfulness to the nation; and Trust-keeping faith.
The festival also honored the nation’s sacred, inviolable sovereignty — both for today and for future generations. It sought to spread the humanistic and ethical values of filial piety throughout society.
 Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang speaks at the program. (Photo: Vinh Phong/VOV5) |
In his address, Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Deputy President of the Executive Council and Head of the Central Information and Communications Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said Vu Lan is not only a time for family remembrance but also a moment to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the eternal survival of the Fatherland.
“Countless sons and daughters left behind their beloved family to protect our homeland. They, too, were filial children, but chose a greater love: love for the nation, for every inch of land, every breath of the motherland,” said Most Venerable Quang.
He noted, “The program ‘Vu Lan – Filial Piety and the Nation’ has grown from an annual event into a journey of spreading the ancestral value we call ‘drinking water, remembering the source of our blessings’. Today, Vu Lan goes beyond rituals, becoming deeply woven into people’s hearts and lives — a rhythm, a source, a lifeline for millions of Vietnamese, connecting hearts and spreading the filial love far and wide.”
A series of Vu Lan activities has already taken place, including the “Journey of Gratitude – Lighting Incense at Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery” in Quang Tri province; a program to donate books and school supplies to children in northwestern localities; and an online writing and drawing contest called “Kindling Filial Piety – Brightening the Soul of the Nation” to inspire patriotism among the younger generation.
