(VNF) - The Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) festival, one of the country’s largest festivals, officially opened in Quan The Am Pagoda in Ngu Hanh district, the central city of Da Nang, on March 16^th.

Thousands of people gathered at the festival. (Photo: V.Hung)

The Buddhist festival, which fell on March 14^th-16^th (on the 17^th-19^th day of second lunar month), honours Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, while praying for peace and prosperity for the country.

The festival includes incense-offering ceremony, traditional boat- racing, a praying ceremony, Buddhism indoctrination, and exhibitions of paintings, photos and calligraphy.

Delegates at the opening night on March 14^th.

Listed among the country’s 15 biggest festivals since 2000, the festival has become a spiritual tourism product of Da Nang, welcoming Buddhist followers from across Vietnam.

It contributes to preserving the national cultural identities and promoting Da Nang’s tourism to domestic and foreign visitors.

The pagoda, built in 1957, is located at the foot of the Kim Son (Metal Mountain) in the Ngu Hanh Son (Five Element Mountains) area.

Ngu Hanh Son area is about 8km away from the city’s centre and is a wonderful natural landscape with several ancient pagodas, mysterious caves and picturesque scenery./.

Compiled by VNF