PBA volunteers at the Buddhist temple in Kuantan setting up the dais for the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue on Wesak Day.
THE Pahang Buddhist Association (PBA) will have its Wesak Day celebration involving the public after a two-year hiatus.
Its vice-chairman Tan Seng Bee said a variety of programmes and activities had been lined up for the celebration themed “Mutual aid and respect promotes harmony”.
“We have been doing closed-door Wesak Day offerings for the past two years. It looked like the situation would persist this year but then, most of the restrictions were lifted recently, paving the way for us to organise a physical celebration.
“We are expecting a large crowd this Sunday since the public hasn’t been able to visit the temple on Wesak Day for a while now,” he said.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the association’s temple in Jalan Bukit Ubi in Kuantan was a hive of activity as thousands of devotees would show up to celebrate Wesak Day.
Tan said a prelude would be held today beginning at 8.30pm with a chanting and blessing session, followed by the “Endless Lights” ceremony where devotees could walk with lanterns around the picturesque lake by the temple.
“Wesak Day celebrations will start with the flag-hoisting ceremony at 8.30am on the main field. A chanting and offering session to Triratna will then be conducted in the main shrine at 9am.
“After that, the public can move around the temple for a number of activities throughout the day such as a colouring and Heart Sutra writing contests, Dharma talks, Buddhist hymns and parent-child movie sharing,” he said.
Tan said a vegetarian lunch would be served but this time, it would be strictly for takeaway only as the association aimed to reduce crowding at the temple grounds.
Devotees can also take part in the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue in the main shrine as well as head to the exhibition booths in the basement promoting awareness of various PBA activities, he said.
He also advised the public to wear face mask while indoors, adding that there would be 200 volunteers on duty to control and guide the crowd. — By ONG HAN SEAN
