THE 2026 ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL AT QUANG MINH TEMPLE
THE 2026 ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL AT QUANG MINH TEMPLE: A SACRED MILESTONE IN BUDDHIST DEVOTION AND A HISTORIC EVENT FOR THE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY
To our respected community members, venerable monastics, and distinguished guests,
On the beautiful morning of August 23, 2026, under a clear blue sky and gentle spring sunshine, the vibrant pink and red cherry blossoms in full bloom before the Grand Main Hall (Dai Hung Buu Dien) set a breathtaking and tranquil scene. Amidst this serene atmosphere, thousands of Buddhist devotees from all walks of life gathered with one heart at their spiritual home: Quang Minh Temple (Victoria, Australia). This year’s Ullambana Festival (Mother’s Day in Buddhism) felt exceptionally historic and sacred, beautifully coinciding with the peak of the cherry blossom season.
The Sacred Procession and the Official Welcome of the Government Delegation
At 10:30 AM, Buddhist families dressed in traditional attire gathered in solemn devotion to commence the formal procession, reverently escorting the Venerable Monastics to the Main Hall to initiate the sacred rituals.
By 11:00 AM, a historic diplomatic moment unfolded at the temple’s main gates. The Management Committee, alongside thousands of cheering devotees and community members, extended a spectacular welcome to a high-level Victorian Government delegation led by the Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Ben Carroll, accompanied by state ministers and members of parliament. The celebration commenced with a traditional firecracker display and a vibrant lion dance. The Premier walked along the path lined with blooming cherry blossoms, warmly shaking hands and exchanging greetings with members of the Vietnamese-Australian community.
On this auspicious occasion, Dr. Nhan Pham formally introduced the members of the Quang Minh Temple Management Committee and presented an overview of the upcoming Multicultural Community Cultural Centre project. Following the introductions, the delegation was escorted to the Main Hall, where the Abbot, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, extended a warm welcome and guided the official guests into the main auditorium for the formal ceremony.
The festival was deeply honoured by the presence of prominent federal, state, and local dignitaries, including:
· The Hon. Ben Carroll MP – Premier of Victoria.
· The Hon. Daniel Mulino MP – Federal Member for Fraser.
· The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP – State Minister for Veterans, Small Business, Youth, and Victoria's Multicultural Affairs.
· The Hon. Luba Grigorovich MP – State Member for Kororoit.
· Ms. Sarah Connolly MP – State Member for Laverton.
· Cr. Cuc Lam – Councillor for Maribyrnong City Council.
· Ms. Cam Nguyen, Ms. Thanh-Kham, and various representatives from community associations and local councils.
Solemn Sacred Rituals and Historic Government Pledges
Inside the Grand Main Hall, Venerable Thich Phuoc Thai, together with the Master of Ceremonies, coordinated the official proceedings with seamless grace and profound dignity. The ceremony commenced with a traditional flower offering dance dedicated to the Buddhas—a highly artistic performance that deeply moved the congregation. Following the performance, the entire audience rose to their feet, welcoming the government delegation into the hall with a resounding round of applause.
The Abbot, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, then delivered the opening address. On behalf of the temple, the Venerable Abbot extended his warmest welcomes to The Hon. Daniel Mulino, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman, The Hon. Luba Grigorovich, Ms. Sarah Connolly, Cr. Cuc Lam, Ms. Cam Nguyen, and Ms. Thanh-Kham. He shared profound spiritual insights regarding the deep significance of the Ullambana Festival—a sacred season dedicated to filial piety, expressions of gratitude towards parents, and the remembrance of ancestral roots.
Following Abbot's speech, Premier Ben Carroll delivered a historic keynote address. The Premier officially highlighted the Labor Government's latest landmark social welfare policy, announced just two days prior: the introduction of universal free dental care for all Victorians, fulfilling a long-awaited aspiration for dental healthcare across Australia. Furthermore, standing before the congregation at Quang Minh Temple, the Premier officially pledged a $4 million AUD government grant to fund the construction of the Multicultural Community Cultural Centre at the temple. This historic announcement prompted a spontaneous standing ovation from over 1,000 attendees inside and outside the hall, expressing their profound gratitude to the state government.
The Rose-Pinning Ceremony and Sangha Offering
The traditional Rose-Pinning Ceremony (Le Cai Hoa Hong) was subsequently held in a deeply moving and solemn atmosphere. Vibrant red roses were reverently pinned onto the lapels of those blessed to still have their parents living, while pure white roses were worn by those whose parents have departed this life. It was a poignant moment of reflection, filled with boundless love and gratitude for mothers and fathers.
Following the collective chanting of the Ullambana Sutra, the Venerable Monastics proceeded to the dining hall for the Sangha Dana offering, marking the successful completion of the three-month rain retreat (Vassa).
Following the conclusion of the formal religious rites, over 5,000 devotees and guests gathered to enjoy a nutritious, peaceful vegetarian luncheon. Attendees were treated to a special musical performance by the popular Tuy Hong Band, fostering a warm, joyful family atmosphere. Outside in the temple courtyard, another live band continued to play cheerful, melodic tunes, filling the spring air with joy.
A Successful Conclusion and Hopes for the Future
The 2026 Ullambana Festival at Quang Minh Temple concluded with a success that far exceeded all expectations. All three expansive halls of the temple complex reached full capacity. Community members and devotees enthusiastically took beautiful commemorative photographs amidst the blooming cherry blossoms. The landmark event recorded the attendance of over 5,000 community members alongside more than 50 Venerable Monastics representing diverse Buddhist traditions across Australia.
In his closing remarks, Venerable Thich Phuoc Thai expressed his profound gratitude to all attending monastics, government dignitaries, community organizations, volunteers, and devotees whose collective efforts ensured the flawless execution of this grand festival.
By 3:00 PM, the celebrations drew to a close. Attendees departed with hearts filled with spiritual fulfillment, carrying cherished memories of parental love, the spectacular spring scenery of Quang Minh Temple, and immense joy regarding the Victorian Government's landmark welfare announcements and cultural funding. The temple community looks forward to reuniting at the upcoming Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival at 5 pm on 26/09/2026.
May you all be blessed with peace, harmony, and the radiant blessings of the Buddha.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Nhan Pham
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Successful 2026 Vu Lan festival and Wonderful Government Grand
The Vu Lan festival successfully organised at Quang Minh Temple. Also there is a wonderful news for the Temple as the primier of Victoria has anounced a 4 million dollars grand for the temple new extension project.
Congratulation to Quang Minh monks and management Team
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QUANG MINH TEMPLE'S 2650TH VESAK CELEBRATION, BUDDHIST CALENDAR 2570 SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026, LAUNCHING THE $20 MILLION PROJECT TO BUILD A STUPA AND MULTICULTURAL ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER
VESAK CELEBRATION PROGRAM & SPECIAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, LAUNCHING THE $20 MILLION PROJECT TO BUILD A STUPA AND MULTICULTURAL ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER.
This year, we were honored to host numerous federal, state, and local dignitaries who participated and delivered speeches. Prominent attendees included: The Hon. Daniel Mulino MP, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman, The Hon. Sarah Connolly MP, Mr. Trung Luu, Ms. Katie Hall MP, Ms. Vivienne (Viv) Nguyen, the CEO of Maribyrnong City Council, Councillors Cr Mohamed Semra and Cr Cuc Lam, Ms. Thuy Dang, Ms. Thien Kim, and Ms. Thanh-Kham Tran-Dang, among others.
On this auspicious Buddha's Birthday, as in previous years, our Venerable Abbot Thich Phuoc Tan presented to our esteemed guests, community members, and Buddhist devotees the ambitious plan to construct a stupa and a multicultural arts and cultural center. This center will serve Quang Minh Temple specifically, and the entire Australian community broadly.
Following the Abbot's inspiring speech and the signing of the master plan, monks, nuns, federal, state, and local officials, representatives from community organizations, fellow devotees, and members of friendly communities all took turns signing the collective blueprint for the construction project after performing the Ceremony of Bathing the Buddha. This act symbolized our collective determination to realize this vision, witnessed by Buddhas in all ten directions, on the occasion of the Buddha's Birthday, with the protection of devas and dharma guardians, ensuring the project's complete success in serving our multicultural and artistic community in the future.
At 12:30 PM, all guests and Buddhist devotees were invited to the hall to enjoy cultural performances and lunch. Here, the Abbot once again elaborated on the significance of building the stupa and the multicultural arts and cultural center to an audience of nearly 1,000 attendees.
Project Overview:
1. Project Vision: Establishing and developing a new Multicultural Arts and Community Centre.
- Maintaining Natural Beauty: Ongoing care is essential to ensure the landscape is not encroached upon by invasive species. Restoring a riverside landscape after a public construction project requires a phased approach, prioritizing soil stability, native biodiversity, and long-term maintenance. By integrating "soft" engineering techniques with strategic planting, we can rebuild a sustainable ecosystem that preserves its natural beauty.
2. Community Outreach: This center will serve a broad and diverse population across various ethnicities, genders, and age groups, including communities such as Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and many others.
3. Tourist Destination: The center is envisioned as a premier tourist destination for Victoria and all of Australia, featuring major cultural attractions like our signature Cherry Blossom Festival, grand Vesak celebrations, New Year's Eve festivities, Vu Lan Ceremony (Parents' Day), and Mid-Autumn Festival.
4. The Future: A Multicultural Arts and Community Museum Centre
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Project Highlights: To meet this growing demand, we are embarking on a landmark expansion project, with construction anticipated to commence in late 2027.
- Glass Building: A modern, transparent building overlooking the river, with a capacity for over 1,500 people, suitable for national and international conferences.
- 9-Story Stupa: An iconic spiritual landmark along the Maribyrnong River, incorporating:
- A Multicultural Arts Center
- Conservation efforts for local flora and fauna
- Preservation of traditional Aboriginal culture
- A Community Museum Center for local culture.
- Grand Plaza: A versatile space designed to gather 15,000 people for major festivals.
- Cultural Tourism: Nature & Wellness: Experience the Maribyrnong River upstream during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in August, attracting visitors from across Victoria to enjoy the beautiful, relaxing scenery with over 200 vibrant cherry blossom trees, promising to become a leading tourist destination in Victoria.
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Financial Independence Over the Years: We have a strong track record of financial self-sufficiency. However, given the total capital investment, this $20 million project requires significant funding. We have successfully raised $5 million to date and are actively seeking additional partners to realize this vision, with contributions from the Vietnamese community, other ethnic communities, and Buddhist devotees.
This project is more than just a building; it is a commitment to future generations. It will be the perfect hub to serve people through education, physical and mental well-being, and social cohesion through Multicultural Arts and Culture. With its outstanding architecture, this center will reflect the multicultural heart of Victoria.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pham Phuc Nhan
