Devotees throng temples to celebrate Wesak Day
Buddhists throng temples to pay tribute to Buddha
Devotees performing the bathing of the Buddha ritual as part of the Wesak Day celebration at Chempaka Buddhist Lodge in Petaling Jaya. Nationwide, devotees packed Buddhist temples to pay tribute to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of the religion. It was a lively and colourful celebration.
KUALA LUMPUR: On Wesak Day, Buddhists began to visit temples nationwide early in the morning to carry out religious rituals and pay tribute to Siddharta Gautama, the founder of the religion.
Many also took the opportunity to donate in cash and kind to the underprivileged.
A lively yet modest atmosphere filled the air when some 3,000 devotees visited the Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple in Brickfields yesterday to conduct religious ceremonies by lighting candles and bringing flowers to symbolise the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.
One of the devotees, Tham Swe Loong, 68, said the Wesak Day celebration was not only for religious observation but also to serve as a day to help those in need.
“It is a day to help the poor and we brought food supplies for donation to the underprivileged.
“We are very lucky to celebrate Wesak Day in harmony.
“It shows that we are living in a peaceful multiracial country,” he told Bernama.
Other Buddhist temples here were also packed with devotees carrying flowers as well as other basic necessities such as rice, bottled drinks and canned food to be donated to the deserving.
The celebration also attracted Australian tourist Olivia Brown, 27, who said it was fascinating “to witness such a spiritual ceremony, full of tradition and rituals which shows their (Buddhists) faith and belief”.
There were also volunteers from various welfare bodies and non-governmental organisations at the temples to ensure the celebration went smoothly.
We are very lucky to celebrate Wesak Day in harmony. It shows that we are living in a peaceful multiracial country.
Tham Swe Loong
In Selangor, Buddhists converged at the Fo Guan Shan (FGS) Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Banting.
One of them, Lee Mun, 45, said the family wanted the children to learn more about Buddhism so that they can have a stronger grounding to become better individuals.
The temple, which houses the largest Buddha statue in Selangor, is also a tourist attraction as well as an important cultural and educational centre.
In Negri Sembilan, devotees began to converge at the prayer hall inside the Malaysian Buddhist Association of Negri Sembilan branch building in Jalan Tan Sri Manickvasagam as early as 9am.
Hundreds of devotees performed religious rituals which took place until the afternoon.
In Melaka, the Seck Kia Ench temple in Jalan Gajah Berang was the focus of more than 3,000 devotees.
Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari was also present to wish the devotees Happy Wesak Day as he mingled with those at the temple.
The shopping malls in the city were also crowded with people who took advantage of the public holiday today.
Some were there to make early preparations for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
In Johor Baru, overcast weather did not prevent 40,000 Buddhists from gathering at the Fo Ghuang Shan Hsingma Si Bathing Temple in Skudai since early morning to perform religious rituals.
The ceremony, attended by state executive councillor Liow Cai Tung, also featured a dance performance by Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts-Cebu from the Philippines.
In Penang, heavy rain did not dampen the spirit of the devotees, including Tang Kwang Seng, 45, a Grab driver, from fulfilling his religious obligation at the Penang Buddhist Association in Jalan Burma.
“Regardless of the weather condition, we will always come to pray, to fulfil our obligations,” he said.
In Perak, Deputy Health Minister and Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye joined other devotees in performing religious rituals at the Malaysian Buddhist Centre Perak branch in Pasir Puteh.
He told reporters later that Wesak Day symbolised the harmony and unity that existed in the country’s multiracial, multireligious society.
“We need to be mindful of our words and manners to avoid doing bad deeds. This is to avoid misunderstanding between the different cultures and races, thus eradicating the ideology of extremism,” he said.