Wesak celebration in the Klang Valley
Story and photos by CHRISTINA LOW
Even as Buddhists in the Klang Valley gathered to observe Wesak Day yesterday, they made donations to help the victims of the recent natural disasters in Myanmar and China
BUDDHIST devotees were treated to a four-hour performance by artistes from various Asian countries during the Wesak Day Cultural Night on Saturday.
Wowing the crowd: The Punjabi group stole the limelight with their Bhangra dance to the driving beat of their drums.
The annual show, held at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, was a highlight on the temple’s Wesak Day celebrations that the Chief High Priest of Malaysia, the Most Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Nayaka Thera, felt was much needed.
“Nowadays, people rarely know their own culture and traditions, unlike in the old times when our parents will constantly instil it in us to make sure we practised it.
“Hence, as a religious leader, I feel it is my duty to help the community bring back our traditions and cultures, especially for the younger generation,” said Dhammaratana.
The event featured performances by troupes from Sri Lanka, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea, as well as by the little ones from the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society.
Charming: The Thais came colourfully dressed and performed their traditional dance.
When the Sri Lankan and Punjabi troupes made their way to the main stage, the crowd cheered and clapped to the fast beat of the drums.
And, as the Chinese group thrilled the audience with their flawless acrobatic moves that had many children in awe.
Dhammaratana said this year’s show was scaled down because the temple wanted to keep in view the sufferings of the victims of the recent disasters in Myammar and China.
From China: The Chinese girls' team performing the Chinese Lantern Dance.
Before the show kicked off, Dhammaratana, together with the heads of the diplomatic missions of Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, launched the China Earthquake Relief Fund to aid survivors of the recent disaster which had left many homeless and in need to daily necessities.
Earlier, the temple had launched its Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund, which has raised more than RM55,000 so far and delivered three tonnes of food and mineral water to the United Sikhs collection centre in Kampung Pandan to be sent to Myanmar.
Also present at the show was Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.
Last night, thousands of Buddhist devotees gathered for the annual Wesak Day procession that began at about 7pm outside the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields and wound its way through the city.
http://buddhistsinklangvalley.blogspot.com
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Thousands pay homage to Buddha
By LIM CHIA YING
PAYING homage to Lord Buddha at the temple and making offerings of lights and flowers were the order of the day as Buddhist devotees observed Wesak Day yesterday.
Thousands of people made a beeline to the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA) in Jalan Kewajipan, to celebrate what is regarded as the most auspicious day in the Buddhist calendar.
Yesterday's celebrations started at 7am, although the observance of Wesak had begun on Sunday, when devotees and volunteers had gathered at the temple to light oil lamps and attend the Wesak Eve's Puja and Dhamma talk, before going in a procession around the temple and participating in all-night chanting and meditation.
Devotees also joined in prayers at the temple's main shrine hall. A special puja service also conducted at about 9am while awaiting the official launch of the celebrations by guest-of-honour Datuk Tang See Hang, who has been SJBA's patron since 1990.
Also present were special guests Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne and Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh.
Seeking blessings: Devotees kneeling down as monks tie yellow strings around their wrists.
SJBA president Chim Siew Choon said Tang had been instrumental in helping the committee secure the land to build the temple in 1992.
“Our temple was registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) in 1988, so we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year,” said Chim.
Chim hoped the new state government would look favourably into the association's application to buy another piece of land.
“We are considering maintaining the new land as a green lung and for the use of the Sunday Dhamma school children,” he said, adding that they would seek members' views at their upcoming annual general meeting before submitting their application.
It is learnt that a bridge costing about RM1mil would soon be built near the temple to enable pedestrians to cross the busy Jalan Kewajipan.
Yeoh, in her speech, said the state government acknowledged the lack of places of worship was an issue, and that a new committee had been formed under state health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jayakumar to look into applications by religious organisations.
“The state cannot guarantee that all land applications will be approved but we assure you that we will consider everyone's request,” said Yeoh.
Loh urged devotees to spare a thought for the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China even as they said their prayers.
Tang said he was happy to see the temple had grown. He also commended SJBA for donating generously to the various charities.
This year's Wesak Day organising chairman, Steven Quah, said the association had also organised a blood and organ donation campaign as part of its effort to promote a caring and sharing community.
Chim also thanked devotees Leong Wai Keong and Vincent Chew, who had donated a two-room apartment in Port Dickson to the association to house members whenever there were activities there.
Wesak Day is a time when Buddhists try to recall and aspire to emulate the great virtues of the Buddha – compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom.
Devotees also renew their resolve to carry out more good deeds like charitable activities, observing morality, and practising mental cultivation to purify their minds.
As monks later went around blessing devotees in the temple, a vegetarian lunch was served.
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Low-key Wesak celebration
Story and photos by CHRISTINA LOW
Even as Buddhists in the Klang Valley gathered to observe Wesak Day yesterday, they made donations to help the victims of the recent natural disasters in Myanmar and China
BUDDHIST devotees were treated to a four-hour performance by artistes from various Asian countries during the Wesak Day Cultural Night on Saturday.
Wowing the crowd: The Punjabi group stole the limelight with their Bhangra dance to the driving beat of their drums.
The annual show, held at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, was a highlight on the temple’s Wesak Day celebrations that the Chief High Priest of Malaysia, the Most Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Nayaka Thera, felt was much needed.
“Nowadays, people rarely know their own culture and traditions, unlike in the old times when our parents will constantly instil it in us to make sure we practised it.
“Hence, as a religious leader, I feel it is my duty to help the community bring back our traditions and cultures, especially for the younger generation,” said Dhammaratana.
The event featured performances by troupes from Sri Lanka, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea, as well as by the little ones from the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society.
Charming: The Thais came colourfully dressed and performed their traditional dance.
When the Sri Lankan and Punjabi troupes made their way to the main stage, the crowd cheered and clapped to the fast beat of the drums.
And, as the Chinese group thrilled the audience with their flawless acrobatic moves that had many children in awe.
Dhammaratana said this year’s show was scaled down because the temple wanted to keep in view the sufferings of the victims of the recent disasters in Myammar and China.
From China: The Chinese girls' team performing the Chinese Lantern Dance.
Before the show kicked off, Dhammaratana, together with the heads of the diplomatic missions of Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, launched the China Earthquake Relief Fund to aid survivors of the recent disaster which had left many homeless and in need to daily necessities.
Earlier, the temple had launched its Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund, which has raised more than RM55,000 so far and delivered three tonnes of food and mineral water to the United Sikhs collection centre in Kampung Pandan to be sent to Myanmar.
Also present at the show was Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.
Last night, thousands of Buddhist devotees gathered for the annual Wesak Day procession that began at about 7pm outside the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields and wound its way through the city.
http://BuddhistsInKlangValley.blogspot.com
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