Visitors to the iconic Buddhist nation of Vietnam will delight in a visit to the city of Haiphong, home to such decorated sites as Du Hang Pagoda, considered to be the centre of Buddhism in the city. Guests looking for quality Haiphong hotels will be spoiled for choice in this very spiritual northern Vietnamese city. A fine hotel in Haiphong would be the Harbour View Hotel Haiphong Vietnam, whose modern conveniences set in traditional colonial architecture will provide a delightful glimpse into Vietnamese hospitality. The Vietnam is a vibrant country in Southeast Asia boasting a splendid cultural and religious lineage. The country explodes into celebration during the May Full Moon, otherwise known as “Vesak” in Buddhist circles, which venerates the birth of Buddha. It is …

Festivals are a resplendent affair in the land of the Thunder Dragon with people dressed in the finest hand woven material, coral and turquoise jewels. One of the most significant festivals is the Tsechus which is held in all districts once a year on auspicious days of the Bhutanese calendar in honor of Guru Rinpoche who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. The dance dramas and masked dance rituals last up to as long as four days with hundreds or even thousands of Bhutanese gatherings at monasteries to watch. Monks as well as community dancers gather to form the parade of masked dancers. The monks prepare for months in advance in deep prayer and meditation and perform special mystical dances that are believed …

The Poson Festival natively referred to as Poson Poya in Sri Lanka celebrates the introduction of Buddhism to the country during the third century BC. It is a significant historical event to the country where majority of people practices Buddhism as their religion. The Mihintale rock plays a significant role during the Poson Festival which is held during the month of June, since it is said that it was in Mihintale where King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka was converted to Buddhism by the Arahat Mahinda who came from India. With this legend Mihintale has become the main site for festive activities during Poson and many locals and foreigners visit Mihintale during this season to perform religious rites as well as for leisure. There are many …

Vesak is a holy day for millions of Buddhist around the world as it commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’ or passing away. The exact day of the festival varies according to the lunar calendars of various cultures but in Theravada Buddhist countries following the Buddhist Calendar it generally falls on a full moon day on the 6th lunar month which is usually in May. The name Vesak itself is a derivative of the name for the lunar month occurring from April to May. Although festivals to mark Vesak had been taking place for several centuries, the decision to celebrate Vesak worldwide as Buddha’s birthday was taken at the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950. The …

Though Maldives depends on its neighbours for most basic necessities such as food and drinking water, the nation of many islands has an abundance of scenic venues, transcending beaches and bountiful natural formations. In spite of its tiny dimensions, the many atolls are full of activity, customs and culture. To witness the splendour of the chain of islands, a fair amount of jet sitting or boat riding is required as there are no bridges between them. Being a predominantly Islamic nation, the various religious rituals and celebrations pertaining to Islam are practiced widely throughout the country. The father of the religion, Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is a day of celebration, happiness and much festivities in the country. As per the religious calendar, the much awaited day …

The Maldives joins all other Islamic nations in the world to commemorate Eid ul Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, in honour of prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to show obedience to god. It is also a commemoration of the end of the Haj. Fifteen mosques in Male, Hulhumale and Vilingili are designated to conduct special Eid prayers. The Eid Adha is performed any time after sun rise, before the Zuhr time on the 10th day of the Dhul Hijjah according to the Muslim calendar, around the middle of October, and lasts for four days. Goats and sheep are sacrificed as god accepted a sheep in the place of Ishmael. As worshippers are encouraged to turn out in their best for Eid …