Vesak 2019, or the 16th United Nations Days of Vesak (UNDV), will be celebrated at the Tam Chúc Buddhism Culture Centre, Kim Bảng District, in the northern province of Hà Nam from May 12-14, the third event of its kind to be held in Việt Nam. — NVA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Vesak 2019, or the 16th United Nations Days of Vesak (UNDV), will be celebrated at the Tam Chúc Buddhism Culture Centre, Kim Bảng District, in the northern province of Hà Nam from May 12-14, the third event of its kind to be held in Việt Nam.
The Vesak 2019 celebration has the theme ‘Buddhism’s Approach to Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies’ and will be chaired by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in co-ordination with the International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV). 
At a press conference held in Hà Nội yesterday, Venerable Thích Gia Quang, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council and Head of the Communications Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vice Chairman of the Vesak 2019 Organizing Committee, said Việt Nam successfully hosted Vesak celebrations in 2008 in Hà Nội and in 2014 in Ninh Bình Province.
According to Thích Đức Thiện, Deputy Chairman-Secretary General of the Executive Board of the VBS, the Vesak 2019 celebration will welcome about 1,500 foreign Buddhist leaders, scholars and researchers from 105 countries and territories together with heads of state and ambassadors and representatives of international organisations in Việt Nam.
Việt Nam’s Party, State and VBS leaders and some 15,000-20,000 local and overseas Buddhist followers will also attend.
The Vesak 2019 celebration will have five forums discussing the responsible leadership for sustainable societies, Buddhism’s approach to harmonious family, education, and responsible consumption and Buddhism and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Some 398 presentations in English from foreign scholars and 110 others by Vietnamese scholars have been sent to the event.
Spiritual and cultural events will be held on the sidelines of the event, like the bathing of the Buddha ritual, requiems, a lantern night, photo exhibitions on world heritage pagodas, an exhibition on Buddhist antiques and an art exchange.
The UN General Assembly on December 15, 1999 recognised the Day of Vesak to celebrate the thrice-sacred event of the life of the Buddha Gautama.— VNS