SƠN TÂY — A large-scale spring festival featuring flowers exhibitions, arts and martial arts performances, folk games and vegetarian food will be held for the first time at the Khai Nguyên Pagoda in Hà Nội’s Sơn Tây provincial town.

The three-day event, which begins on February 4 (the eighth day of the new lunar year), also marks the first time that this kind of festival is held in a pagoda in Việt Nam.  

The event, entitled Hội Xuân An Lạc (Happy Spring), is organised by Happy Entrepreneur Community, the Hà Nội Martial Arts Association and Việt Nam Laughter Yoga.

“The event aims to preserve and develop the traditional cultural values of the country. Through the event, we hope to spread love and connect the community together,” said Thích Đạo Thịnh , head nun of Khai Nguyên Pagoda.

Some 200 athletes will perform traditional martial arts to promote the sporting spirit of the country. Martial arts instructor Phạm Phong, the first Vietnamese who wrote a book about the history of martial arts in the country, will talk on the subject.

Artists and well-known Buddhist singers will perform music and dragon dances.

1,000 pots of vegetarian hot-pot will be cooked at the pagoda and offered to the visitors and Buddhists at the event.  

Vegetarians will share with the visitors about the benefits of eating vegetarian food to attract them towards a healthy lifestyle, love for nature and protection of the environment.

The event is expected to attract 10,000 visitors per day. They are expected to take part in the Laughter yoga event at the pagoda on this occasion.

Some 60 enterprises making veggie products as well as handmade products  will be present at the event.

Khai Nguyên Pagoda is located at the Sơn Đông commune of Sơn Tây provincial town, 50km from the centre of Hà Nội. The pagoda is appreciated for its beautiful and serene landscapes. In particular, over the past two years, it has opened classes to students to help them experience life of nuns during several days per month. — VNS