(VOV) – Sivali Vietnamese Theravada Trust- the first Theravada temple of the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha (VBS) was inaugurated on December 6 in Varanasi, India’s Andhra Pradesh state.
Representatives from the VBS, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, the Vietnam Embassy in India, Varanasi city authorities along with about 10,000 Buddhist monks and nuns and domestic and foreign guests were in attendance.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Vietnam Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh praised Most Venerable Dr. Thich Tuong Quang’s great efforts in mobilizing resources for the building of the pagoda, saying this will be an ideal destination for Vietnamese pilgrims, meeting the spiritual needs of Buddhists and tightening the traditional friendship between the two peoples.
On the occasion, VBS Central Committee Chairman Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, announced a decision appointing Most Venerable Thich Thien Minh and Most Venerable Thich Truong Quang as heads of the temple.
The temple was built since 2009, covering an area of 5170 m2 at a total cost of up to US$1.3 million as a donation from Buddhist monks and nuns inside and outside the country.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
