VietExplorer2020

The event marks the Thai traditional New Year. Songkran, also known as the Water Festival, is celebrated throughout the country during 13 – 15 April every year. The festival places emphasis on respect, love, and gratitude using water as means of expression. Songkran is the occasion for family unions. Thai people often visit temples and clean their houses during the holiday. Fun-loving Thai people throw water at each other as a symbol of washing off the misfortune of the past year to welcome a new start. Nikorndej Balankura, Ambassador of Thailand to Vietnam, and university students in Hanoi perform the “Rod Nam Dam Hua” or water pouring ceremony, which aims to pay respect to the elderly and ask for their blessings (Photo: Valerie Mai). This year’s event consists of a number of cultural activities to demonstrate how Thais celebrate their traditional New Year including “Rod Nam Dam Hua” or a water pouring ceremony, a showcase of Thai culinary by Thai chefs, dance performan...

Ven. Dr Dhammapiya, Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation. (File Photo/ANI) The theme of the summit is ‘Response to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis’. Dhammapiya, General Secretary of the IBC, stated that many issues in the world can be resolved by following the precepts of the Buddha. The summit is aimed at exploring answers to multifarious issues faced by humanity globally. Keeping Buddhism as its base, eminent scholars from across the globe will try to find solutions to various problems humans are encountering every day. It will cover subjects such as Buddhism and peace, environmental crisis, health and sustainability, and the preservation of the Nalanda Buddhist tradition, as well as Buddhist pilgrimage, living heritage and Buddha relics. The federation, which has its headquarters in Delhi, aims to unite the Buddhist community so they can think about the major global issues, discuss and be motivated to work together. According to hi...