Viên Giác Pagoda

The Viên Giác Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of Perfect Enlightenment, is located in the Mittelfeld district of Hanover and serves as a spiritual center for Vietnamese Buddhists. It is one of the largest pagodas in Europe and one of eight Vietnamese Buddhist pagodas in Germany. Construction of the building began in 1987 and was completed in 1993, following a design submitted by architect Tran Phong Luu. Construction costs amounted to approximately 9 million DM. The 24-meter-high tower is adorned with around 10,000 small Buddha figures, which were funded by donations. The complex comprises approximately 3,000 m² of building space as well as an outdoor area of 1,000 m² featuring two small ponds. The prayer hall inside can accommodate about 700 visitors and is wheelchair accessible.

The pagoda follows the teachings of the Pure Land of Sukhavati in Amitabha Buddhism, a tradition that traces its origins to the worship of Amitabha Buddha in India. The Vietnamese abbot Thích Comme Điển founded the Buddhist community in Hannover in 1978 and initiated the construction of the monastery. In 1991, the pagoda was officially inaugurated, even though construction was not yet fully complete. In 1995, the Dalai Lama visited the monastery and delivered a teaching there. The pagoda is also a venue for regular and special events, including daily recitations and major festivals such as Tet, Vesakh, and Ullambana.

© HMTG

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