An art performance honouring filial piety and Buddhist philosophy will take place at the Hanoi Opera House on August 16.

The eventwill celebrate the Vu Lan Festival, a Buddhist event that emerged long ago in Vietnam.Every year, the festival takes place on the 15th day of the seventh lunarmonth. This year, it falls on August 15.

With thetheme Tu An (Four Types of Gratitude), the programme callsfor people to pay gratitude to the country, the Buddha, their parents andpeople. According to Buddhist philosophy, each person should remember thesefour types of gratitude to live as a good person and spread good things inlife.

Theconcert will gather leading artists of the northern region who areprofessionals in various musical genres such as Tan Nhan, Tuan Anh, Thu Hang,Bich Hong, Nguyen Quang Long and Dinh Cuong.

Tan Nhanwill perform songs about motherhood and Tuan Anh will pay respect to thecountry. Quang Long and Xam Ha Thanh Group will perform traditional “xam” (blindbuskers’ singing) music and cheo (traditional operetta). Dinh Cuongwill present instrumental music.

Theconcert will open with a performance by monks and all the artists.They will cite the Great Compassion Mantra, one of the most popular andsignificant in Buddhism, to honour the religion and its humane philosophy.

Singer TanNhan, head of the organising board, revealed that Venerable Thich Minh Hien, amember of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Central Committee, will supervise the show’scontent.

“This isa special concert with both a solemn atmosphere and practical philosophy thatcalls people to do good things in life,” said Nhan. “It can be said thatthe concert is the combination of elements relating to religion and life.”

Singer NgocCham will serve as the producer of the concert, which is directed by Pham HoangGiang. It will also include dancers, a choir and a symphony orchestra.

It is thebelief of many Vietnamese people, as well as people around the world who sharethe same customs, that on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the gates ofhell open and the souls of the dead can come back to their home. It’s anoccasion for families to spend timetogether and express gratitude to their ancestors and parents.People also go to pagodas to pray for peace for dead people.

Hien saidhe appreciated the initiative and efforts of the artists to organise theconcert. He said he expected the performance to help bringBuddhist ideology closer to the people and spread the values of thereligion through the language of art.

Artistsparticipating in the concert will receive no pay. All of the proceeds fromselling tickets will go to charity.-VNA