Buddha’s Birthday (Bathing the Buddha Festival) falls on May 19, 2021 (the eighth day of the fourth month in Chinese lunar calendar). The Deputy Director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province Mr. Zhong Xinzhang and persons in charge of different provincial religious groups in Zhejiang gathered together at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou to celebrate the festival.
Mr. Zhong extended his best wishes and congratulations to the Buddhist community in Zhejiang on behalf of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee. The persons in charge of different religious groups in Zhejiang attended the ceremony of bathing the Buddha and shared their heartfelt blisses with each other. Then at the tea party, they also had a unique experience of the Buddhist tea culture and a fruitful discussion of the characteristics of each religion. They all expressed that it is of profound significance for them to respect and extend best wishes on important festivals of each religion. Mutual appreciation, respect and understanding are effective means to create a friendly, inclusive, diverse and harmonious atmosphere for various religions, in which different religions have the opportunity to learn from each and coexist in harmony. Such innovative measures play a positive role in the sinicization of religions and the development of harmonious religious relationships. Different religious faiths distinguish each other in doctrines and rules, but they share the same aspiration, namely to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the development of the country. They all serve for the construction of the “Important Window” and a pilot demonstration province of common prosperity in Zhejiang.
Since 2018, participating in and celebrating important festivals of different religions has become a convention for the religious communities in Zhejiang Province thanks to the efforts of the United Front Department of Zhejiang Provincial Committee, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province and all the religious groups in Zhejiang. In the future, such a convention will be followed so as to earnestly implement the sinicization of religions, promote harmony among different religions and build a harmonious society together.
Every year, the Buddhist community celebrates the Buddha’s Birthday, also known as Bathing the Buddha Festival, on the eighth day of the fourth month in Chinese lunar calendar. Bathing the Buddha symbolizes the commemoration of the Buddha. Such a solemn ritual also means the cleansing of our body, speech and thoughts to eradicate anger, greed and ignorance in order to purify our minds to cultivate merits and wisdom.
