The Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival opened in My Duc district, northern Ha Tay province on Feb. 22, 2007, the sixth day of the lunar New Year.

At the opening ceremony, Chairman of the My Duc district People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thinh and Venerable Thich Minh Hien affirmed that the local authorities and relevant services have made good preparations to receive pilgrims and visitors to the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda, especially more transport facilities have been equipped.

Annually, visitors to the festival, which lasts for three months, enjoy the beauty of the Huong Son limestone mountains at a time when apricot trees are in bloom and pay tribute to Buddha, specifically to Avalokitasvara, one of Buddha's disciples.

Legend has it that the festival is held to worship a princess named Dieu Thien who incarnated Avalokitasvara and attained enlightenment there. As the princess was born on the 19th day of the second lunar month, that date has been observed by all Vietnamese Buddhists as a saint day. The shrine in which she practised her religion was discovered in the 15th century by three monks.

However, it was not until 1687 when the Superior Bonze Tran Dao Vien Quang came to the place, and Huong Son (Perfume Mountain) was transformed into a major Buddhist sanctuary and the greatest place of worship for Buddhists in Vietnam.

(Source: VNA)