TALKSHOW “THE BEAUTY OF VISITING PAGODAS AT THE START OF THE YEAR” – VENERABLE THÍCH VẠN LỢI

Visiting pagodas to worship the Buddha in the early days of the new year has become a cherished custom, a beautiful expression of spiritual life among the Vietnamese people. Returning to the Buddha's gate is a return to peace and ease, allowing us to release the worries and burdens of the old year and welcome a new year filled with tranquility.

So where did the tradition of visiting pagodas at the start of the year originate? What rituals should one observe when visiting a pagoda? What is the meaning behind asking for calligraphy at the beginning of the year? Should one pick or ask for blessed offerings to bring home?... All these questions, along with many other useful topics, were shared by Venerable Thích Vạn Lợi – Deputy Director of the International Center for Buddhist Text Translation – in the talkshow “The Beauty of Visiting Pagodas at the Start of the Year.” Diệu Tướng Am was honored to support and accompany the program as its filming location.

Each time Tết arrives and spring returns, besides the custom of honoring their ancestors, Vietnamese people often visit pagodas to pray for blessings and good fortune for their families, hoping for the best in the coming year. This is a cultural and spiritual practice with deep roots in Vietnamese tradition. During the talkshow, Venerable Thích Vạn Lợi shared with the attending Buddhists the origins of this early-year pagoda visiting ritual, offering everyone a deeper understanding of this beautiful traditional custom.

According to long-held folk beliefs, visiting a pagoda should include picking blessed offerings to bring home, carrying good fortune through the threshold, and after paying respects to the Buddha, asking for the Buddha's blessings for good luck. This practice has sparked differing opinions, and given the keen interest of the attending Buddhists, the Venerable shared his own perspective and guided everyone on how to “gather blessings” in the most beneficial way.

Another matter of great interest during pagoda visits is choosing the right day, preparing offerings, and knowing how to pray sincerely so that one's wishes may be fulfilled. Continuing his sharing, Venerable Thích Vạn Lợi guided attendees on how to prepare offerings and offered a prayer for the beginning of the new year, so that everyone could feel more at ease during their visits.

Beyond the standard rituals, visitors to pagodas should also be mindful of certain customs to avoid — such as not stepping through the main entrance, not letting phones ring loudly within the pagoda grounds, and not taking photographs in sacred areas. Addressing this topic, the Venerable offered several essential reminders to help Buddhists conduct themselves with greater care and respect when entering the sacred space of a pagoda.

During the program, Venerable Thích Vạn Lợi also spoke about a deeply meaningful custom rich in traditional culture — the practice of asking for calligraphy at the start of the year. This tradition carries profound humanistic values, reflecting the Vietnamese people's respect for learning and reverence for the written word. Through asking for calligraphy, each person expresses their hopes and intentions for the year ahead, wishing for abundant fortune, peace, and longevity.

In addition, there is a common belief in making offerings by tucking money onto altars, pedestals, or even into the hands of Buddha statues. The Venerable shared his views on this practice, helping everyone understand whether or not it is appropriate to do so when visiting a pagoda to worship the Buddha.

At the close of the talkshow, the Venerable and the attending Buddhists toured and admired the spiritual worship spaces at Diệu Tướng Am. The Buddhists listened attentively as the Venerable explained the benefits and profound meanings behind each image of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Before departing, every attendee was delighted to receive a book gifted by the Venerable, and all expressed their appreciation for the thoughtful preparation and warm hospitality of Diệu Tướng Am.

The program will be broadcast very soon. We warmly invite everyone to follow the Diệu Tướng Am fanpage to watch and gain valuable insight for the upcoming early-year pagoda visits.