The festival is held from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9 at the Tay Thien Grand Mandala Stupa in Vinh Phuc's Tam Dao District. An embroidered painting of the Bodhisattva was revealed at the festival.
The Thongdrol, weighing over 100 kg, is Vietnam's largest embroidered painting. The painting was created by 40 artisans from Bhutan in six months.
A drum ceremony is performed by 13 nuns before the embroidered painting is revealed.
The revelation of the Thongdrol is considered to be a major festival for Buddhist cultures in India and Hymalaya. The revelation is meant for people to perform spiritual rituals together to bring in positive energy in the beginning of the year.
Starting the festival, the Gyalwang Drukpa expresses gratitude to the Tay Thien Buddhist deities who have protected people for many years.
The Bodhisattva is considered to be an important deity, being a Buddhist deity of love and compassion.
A ceremony to open the Namgyelma tower to the east of the Mandala Stupa. The structure was designed by the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa.
The Gyalwang Drukpa leaves his hand prints and signature at the Namgyelma tower. The spiritual leader has come to Vietnam several times over the past 17 years.
For over 40 years of preaching Buddhism to the world, the Gyalwang Drukpa has launched several humanitarian projects and promoted several charity groups on environmental protection, education and medicine.
The Gyalwang Drukpa handed over a painting with his hand prints to Thich Minh Giac, the head monk of the Mandala Tay Thien.
16 nuns perform the Dakini dance, a ritual to bring in positive energy, representing freedom and liberation.
Thousands of people came to the ceremony in temperatures at 12 degrees Celsius.
Pham Thinh Binh (wearing a hat) has come with a group of Buddhists from Hanoi to Tay Thien from 7 a.m. Coming to the Mandala Stupa has been a habit of his for the last 10 years.
The Mandala Stupa is located in the west of the special national Tay Thien site, spanning 1,500 m2 in floor area.
In his 12th visit to Vietnam, the Gyalwang Drukpa and his delegates would have several activities in different localities, including a series of Buddhist festivals in HCMC and other southern localities from Feb. 15 to Feb. 24.
