Da Nang (VNA) – The Quan The Am (theGoddess of Mercy) festival kicked off at Ngu Hanh Son (the Marble Mountain) inthe central coastal city of Da Nang on April 2 (the 17th day of the secondlunar month).

Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Ngu HanhSon district Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said this is an annual cultural, religious andspiritual festival held at Quan The Am pagoda.

The event is meant to preserve and promote theethnic culture and traditional values, she said, adding that it creates anopportunity for the tourism sector to attract more domestic and foreigntourists.

A wide range of activities are held at thefestival including a sutra reading ceremony, a photo exhibition on IndianBuddhism, a visit to the Buddhist cultural museum, an incense offering festivalto commemorate Princess Huyen Tran, and a traditional boat racing festival.

In 2000, the Quan The Am festival was ranked oneof the 15 biggest festivals nationwide. The festival has attracted a lot ofBuddhist monks, nuns and followers across the country.

Quan The Am Pagoda, built in 1957, is located atthe foot of the Kim Son (Metal Mountain) in the Ngu Hanh Son (Five ElementMountains), which boasts wonderful natural landscapes with several ancientpagodas, mysterious caves and picturesque scenery.-VNA