Wesak Celebration in Penang

It's few more days to Wesak Day. And Penang is definitely one of the best places to visit for Wesak. Even if you are not a Buddhist, you would be able to experience the lively environment of Wesak around Penang. And the procession on Wesak Day in the evening should be something in your activity list.

Among the places that you should visit for Wesak are: 

1. Malaysian Buddhist Association, Burma Road

2. Penang Buddhist Association, Anson Road

3. Temples like Mahindrama Temple and Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

There are lots of activities lined up by the Wesak organising committee and temple committee. So, do go and feel the spirit of Wesak in Penang.

Below is an excerpt from TheStar:

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Many activities lined up as temples prepare to celebrate Wesak Day

WITH Wesak Day around the corner, hundreds of volunteers are now helping to spruce up Buddhist temples and associations in Penang as the state gears up to mark the annual auspicious occasion on Tuesday.
Many of the temples are filled with various activities in preparation for the big day.

Busy day: Yeap (left) and three other volunteers sprucing up the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple premises for Wesak Day

 

Besides cleaning up the various Buddhist halls, there are also religious activities such as chanting, the bathing of the Buddha statues and dharma talks.
Wesak commemorates the day that marks the birth, enlightenment and death (Parinirvana) of Lord Buddha.

Well polished: Devotees of Mahindarama Buddhist Temple cleaning the Buddha statue

 

At Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple on Burmah Lane, its devotees were seen busy cleaning up.
This year’s celebration would be more meaningful as the temple will soon have a grand opening ceremony of its new four-storey Golden Pagoda Bell Tower.
Temple trustee Yeap Theam Kwee, 71, said the grand opening would be on Sunday — two days before Wesak Day.
“The opening and the Wesak celebrations are prepared at the same time. This is why we have about 500 helpers this year, which is more than in previous years,” he said.

Towering image: Yeap (left) and a monk putting flowers and lotus candles in front of the Buddha statue in preparation for Wesak Day 

 

The devotees were seen putting flowers and candles in front of the Buddha statue.
Volunteers were also checking on light bulbs and the electrical wiring to ensure everything was in order.
Over at Mahindarama Buddhist Temple on Kampar Road, preparations were in full swing, as the devotees were seen cleaning up the sleeping Buddha statue at the shrine hall.
Temple management committee member Chew Siew Choo, 48, said some devotees would be offering big pieces of yellow cloth to be placed onto the statue as a sign of gratitude.
“About 300 volunteers had started preparing for the big day since one month ago. This includes hanging-up colourful Buddhist plastic flags and cleaning up the temple premises,” she said.
Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) secretary Lim Tein Phong said the state Wesak Day committee members need about 10,000 orchids to decorate the float for the state-level procession.
“We hope the public can donate them as offering flowers is a reminder of impermanence,” he said.
Lim said that the flower donation should be done before this Sunday as the committee needs to complete the float by the eve of Wesak Day.


Source: TheStarMalaysia
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