When Will Vesak Day 2024 Be Officially Held? What Activities Will Take Place During the 2024 Vesak Day in Vietnam?
When Will Vesak Day 2024 Be Officially Held? What is the Schedule for Vesak Day 2024?
According to Circular 88/TB-HDTS of 2024 here and https://cdn.thuvienphapluat.vn/phap-luat/2022-2/NHPT/thong-bach-phat-dan.pdf, guiding the organization of the Great Vesak Day of Buddhist Calendar 2568 - Gregorian Calendar 2024, addressed to the Executive Board of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in provinces and cities.
In commemoration of the Buddha's birth, which holds significant importance for monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists worldwide, including in Vietnam, the United Nations has annually recognized Buddha’s birth as an international religious festival to honor the profound humanistic values of Buddhism for peace in humanity.
The schedule for the Buddha’s birthday week in 2024 is as follows:
The celebration week for the Buddha's 2024 birthday will last from April 1 to April 15 of the Giap Thin year (i.e., May 8 to May 22, 2024).
Specifically:- The Buddha's birthday week in 2024: From April 8 to April 15 of the Giap Thin year (i.e., May 15 to May 22, 2024);- The main ceremony (the official Buddha’s birthday of 2024): on April 15 of the Giap Thin year (i.e., May 22, 2024).
The Circular 88/TB-HDTS of 2024 provides the program for the 2648th Buddha's Birthday celebration in 2024 as follows:
1. April 8 of the Giap Thin year (May 15, 2024):
- At exactly 4 AM, all pagodas and monasteries nationwide will ring three rounds of Bell and Drum of Prajna to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, praying for the country's security and people's peace.
- Organize a week of chanting the Scriptures to celebrate Buddha's birthday, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, and other peace scriptures, praying for the country's security and people's peace, and world peace.
2. April 15 of the Giap Thin year (May 22, 2024):
At exactly 4 AM, all pagodas and monasteries nationwide will ring three rounds of Bell and Drum of Prajna to celebrate Buddha’s birthday.
Conduct the Great Vesak Ceremony:
- Chanting Buddha for protection.
- Singing the National Anthem and Dharma Anthem.
- Announcing the reason, introducing delegates, and outlining the program for the Great Ceremony.
- Offering flowers to celebrate Buddha's birthday.
- Reading the Vesak message of Buddhist Calendar 2568 from the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Speech for the Vesak Great Ceremony Buddhist Calendar 2568 by the Most Venerable Chairman of the Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Speech by a representative of the government.
- Ceremonial chanting to celebrate Buddha’s birthday.
- Buddha Bathing Ceremony.
- Dedication.
- Releasing doves and balloons of peace.
- Gratitude from the Organizing Committee.
Programs of lectures, flower carriage parades, cultural events: at pagodas and monasteries; organizing cultural, artistic programs, exhibitions, and flower carriage parades (if conditions permit) to celebrate.
Thus, according to Circular 88/TB-HDTS of 2024, the Great Vesak Day 2024 will be held on April 15 of the Giap Thin year (i.e., May 22, 2024).
When Will Vesak Day 2024 Be Officially Held in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)
What is the Content of the Vesak 2024 Ceremony in Vietnam?
Section II of Circular 88/TB-HDTS of 2024 provides guidance on the content of the Vesak 2024 ceremony as follows:
Content of the Vesak 2024 Ceremony
- Vesak message of Buddhist Calendar 2568 from the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Speech for the Vesak Great Ceremony Buddhist Calendar 2568 by the Most Venerable Chairman of the Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Lecture on the significance of Buddha’s birthday Buddhist Calendar 2568 by the Central Scripture Dissemination Board of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Banners displayed on Vesak Day:
+ Celebrate the Great Vesak - BC.2568
+ Unity, harmony, nurturing faith, solemnizing the Order.
+ Serving sentient beings is a practical offering to the Buddhas.
Do Employees Get a Day Off on the 2024 Vesak Day in Vietnam?
According to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019 which stipulates holidays as follows:
Holidays and Paid Leave
1. Employees are entitled to fully paid days off for the following holidays:
a) New Year’s Day: 1 day (January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar);
b) Lunar New Year: 5 days;
c) Victory Day: 1 day (April 30 of the Gregorian Calendar);
d) International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1 of the Gregorian Calendar);
e) National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the Gregorian Calendar and 1 contiguous day either before or after);
f) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 1 day (March 10 of the lunar Calendar).
2. Foreign employees working in Vietnam, apart from the holidays specified in Clause 1 of this Article, are also entitled to one traditional national holiday and one National Day of their country.
3. Annually, based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister of Vietnam specifically decides the days off specified in Points b and e, Clause 1 of this Article.
Employees are entitled to fully paid days off for the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day: 1 day (January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar);
- Lunar New Year: 5 days;
- Victory Day: 1 day (April 30 of the Gregorian Calendar);
- International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1 of the Gregorian Calendar);
- National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the Gregorian Calendar and 1 contiguous day either before or after);
- Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 1 day (March 10 of the lunar Calendar).
Additionally, Article 111 of the Labor Code 2019 stipulates as follows:
Weekly Rest Days
1. Each week, employees are entitled to a continuous 24-hour break. In special cases, where the labor cycle does not allow for weekly rest, the employer must ensure that employees get an average of at least 4 days off per month.
2. The employer is entitled to determine the weekly rest day, which may be on Sunday or another specified day, but must be stated in the company’s labor regulations.
3. If a weekly rest day coincides with a public holiday specified in Clause 1, Article 112 of this Code, the employee is entitled to a compensatory rest day in the next working day.
The weekly rest day is decided by the employer. Typically, weekly rest days are arranged on Saturdays and Sundays or only on Sundays.
Therefore, Vesak Day 2024 is not one of the public holidays where employees are entitled to paid leave as per regulations and Vesak Day 2024 also falls on a Wednesday. Consequently, employees are not entitled to a day off on Vesak Day 2024, and those scheduled to work must still go to work as usual.
If Vesak Day 2024 coincides with a weekly rest day, employees are entitled to a day off.
However, employees can proactively request annual leave or unpaid leave on Vesak Day 2024.
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