Wu Lan Festival
September 6, Saturday
Origins and Significance
The Vu Lan Festival is associated with the Buddhist sutra “Ullambana Sutra,” which tells the story of the monk Moggallana (Mục Kiền Liên in the Vietnamese tradition), who saved his mother’s soul from suffering through his prayers and good deeds. This festival has become a symbol of deep filial piety and gratitude to parents.
Celebration Traditions
* Visiting pagodas, reading sutras, and offering gifts to monks to help the souls of the deceased.
* Burning incense and offering food to ancestral spirits.
* Wearing a rose on the chest: a red rose symbolizes living parents, a white rose commemorates those who have passed away.
* Family memorial meals and prayers for ancestors are organized.
Modern Significance
The Vu Lan Festival in Vietnam is a day of gratitude and respect for parents and the elder generations. It combines religious and cultural traditions, preserving spiritual heritage and reminding of the importance of family bonds and compassion.