Vietnamese Buddhist Temple to Hold Grand Opening Ceremony

The Vien An Buddhist Association will celebrate the grand opening of the Vien An Buddhist Temple in Silver Spring this weekend, marking the completion of a new temple more than two decades after the organization was founded.

The public event will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2, at 13915 New Hampshire Avenue and coincides with Avalokiteśvara (Quan Âm) Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day. Admission is free.

Founded in 2002, the association began in a small home serving the area’s Vietnamese Buddhist community. According to the organization, the new temple will be used for Buddhist practice, meditation, education, cultural preservation and community service.

The weekend celebration will feature a grand opening ceremony, traditional Vietnamese Buddhist ceremonies, Dharma talks, a memorial service honoring Buddhist patriarchs and revered teachers, cultural music and performances, guided tours of the temple and complimentary vegetarian meals for attendees. A featured grand opening ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.

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