On the morning of May 11, the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha will hold a solemn ceremony to enshrine the heart and bone relics of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Da Bao Tower, located within the Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda complex in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.

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The sacred heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc is currently on display at Vietnam Quoc Tu for public veneration until May 10. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to sources from VietNamNet, the ceremony will be presided over by the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, with the participation of members from the Advisory Council, Executive Council, Central Ritual Committee, and the HCMC Buddhist Sangha.

Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc was born in 1897 in Khanh Hoa and ordained at an early age. Over his lifetime, he established nearly 30 pagodas and spread the light of compassion to regions torn by war.

However, his most enduring legacy came on June 11, 1963, when he performed self-immolation at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung and Le Van Duyet (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu - Cach Mang Thang Tam in District 3, HCMC). His act of “self-immolation for the Dharma” awakened global conscience and helped topple the oppressive regime of Ngo Dinh Diem.

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Since May 6, tens of thousands have visited Vietnam Quoc Tu to pay their respects to the sacred heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc. Photo: Nguyen Hue

The fire that consumed Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc did not destroy his heart, which remained intact despite cremation at temperatures of over a thousand degrees Celsius. This undying heart relic has since become a symbol of spiritual attainment, fearlessness, compassion, and nonviolence.

Since 1991, the sacred heart relic has been kept in secure storage at the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the State Bank of Vietnam under a formal agreement with the Buddhist Sangha.

On May 5, the relic was ceremoniously brought to Vietnam Quoc Tu. Since the afternoon of May 6, tens of thousands of monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists have gathered in deep reverence to bow and pay their respects, many moved to tears.

Alongside this revered relic, a relic of the historical Buddha brought from India to Vietnam on May 2 is also being displayed for veneration as part of the 2025 UN Day of Vesak celebration in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Venerable Thich Tam Hai, head of the Buddhist Information and Communications Department in HCMC, although the number of visitors has been immense, thanks to proper scheduling and online registration, the flow of pilgrimage groups has remained well-organized and stable, with smooth coordination among all involved departments.

Luu Dinh Long