A requiem ceremony held in HCM City to commemorate those who died of COVID-19 during the pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — Monks and Buddhist followers in HCM City are offering a three-day requiem ceremony from August 18 to commemorate people and frontline workers who died of COVID-19.

The ceremony is organised by the executive board of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha in HCM City at Việt Nam Quốc Tự Pagoda in District 10.

Venerable Thích Lệ Trang, head of the sangha’s executive board, said the ceremony aims to share the pain and loss suffered by thousands of families who have lost their loved ones to the pandemic.

It also praises the nation’s culture and morality, spreads compassion in Buddha's teachings, and promotes patriotic traditions and the positive contributions of Việt Nam Buddhism to society.

“This is to help the victims' families get through the pain, overcome their overwhelming losses, and continue joining hands in building a better city,” he said.

Phan Kiều Thanh Hương, deputy president of the city’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee, expressed gratitude to individuals and organisations nationwide and overseas Vietnamese, especially frontline forces, for their valuable contributions in combating the pandemic, adapting to the pandemic, and striving to bring the city back to a new normal.

“The sangha has accompanied the city authorities with many meaningful activities, contributing to ensuring social security,” she said.

On this occasion, the standing board of the sangha also donated VNĐ1 billion (US$42,535) in cash to the city’s Fund for the Poor, and presented 1,000 gifts worth VNĐ1.2 billion ($51,045) to disadvantaged families affected by the pandemic.

Financial assistance and other support from the city authorities, organisations, and sponsors are being given to local businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic, especially children who lost their parent(s) due to the COVID-19.

The city was the epicentre of the country’s severe fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, which started on April 27 last year, and was the most affected locality in terms of the socio-economy. — VNS