Vu Lan Festival, also known as Mother’s Day in Vietnam, is held annually on the 15th of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. The main objective of this festival is for the people to express their gratefulness and appreciation to deceased ancestors, especially mothers.

Popular activity is to buy and release caged birds, fish and small animals, in the hope that such good deeds will earn them credits for a better incarnation in their next life, as well as helping their relatives in hell to win earlier release from their suffering.

In this festival, many Buddhist countries developed the custom of offering food, clothing, other items to hungry spirits (by presenting a feast & burning joss paper and incense in front of the house) when the realms of Heaven, Hell and the Living are open and praying for their salvation.

Vu Lan Festival, also known as Mother’s Day in Vietnam, is held annually on the 15th of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. The main objective of this festival is for the people to express their gratefulness and appreciation to deceased ancestors, especially mothers.

Popular activity is to buy and release caged birds, fish and small animals, in the hope that such good deeds will earn them credits for a better incarnation in their next life, as well as helping their relatives in hell to win earlier release from their suffering.

In this festival, many Buddhist countries developed the custom of offering food, clothing, other items to hungry spirits (by presenting a feast & burning joss paper and incense in front of the house) when the realms of Heaven, Hell and the Living are open and praying for their salvation.