Quan Am Festival
Time: From the 18th to the 20th day of the second lunar month, the main festival day is on the 19th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Avalokitesvara Pagoda, Ngu Hanh Son D
istrict,Da Nang City.
Objects of worship: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Characteristics: The procession of the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttava, floating lamps on the river and other philanthropic activities.
Quan Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival on Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang is organized on the 19th day of the second lunar month. Like other traditional festivals, Quan Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival on Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang consists of two parts: the religious ceremony and the festival itself. The former takes place with the rituals of Buddhism.
The ceremony to worship spring with full rituals is usually held on the evening of the 18th of the second lunar month. The notables of Hoa Hai, Hoa Quy and Bac My An Wards perform the rites of worshipping, reading oration and praying for safe and sound to everybody.
The ceremony is dedicated to patron saint, god of earth and spirits of the death. The monks pray the Buddha for peace and happiness to the living and for freedom from suffering to the souls of the death. Normally, the Buddhist bereaved gives the list of the deceased to the pagoda in advance. The master of ceremonies must be a superior bonze.The preaching sessions about culture, arts, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and the association between the Buddhist culture and traditional culture in the history of the nation is also part of the festival.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue procession is held on the morning of the 19th day. Four people carry a palanquin that contains a stone statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttava standing on the lotus-shaped throne. She has a look of refined beauty with a gentle smile like the image of a mother. The palanquin goes first and is accompanied by Buddhist followers.
