Triple blessings for devotees

TRIPLE blessings are in store for the Thai community and other Buddhists in Penang when they take part in the Kathina, Loy Krathong and Jathukarm-Ramathep-Ganesha ceremonies. 

The Wat Buppharam Buddhist Temple chief abbot Phra Palad Yan Jong Khanti Palo said the objectives of the ceremonies were to bless donors of Kathina and Loy Krathong celebrations, collect donations for the annual Mettajit Day charity fund and raise funds to renovate the temple. 

He said 5,000 Jathukarm-Ramathep-Ganesha amulets and 5,000 calendars would be given to the public. 

He said the amulets, bearing the image of the Jathukarm-Ramathep deity on one side and the image of the Ganesha deity on the other, were made from herbs, temple relics and other sacred objects found in South Thailand and Kelantan.  

Other symbols in the amulet may also include 12 animal signs and symbols of 12 subordinate cities of old Nakhon Si Thammarat south of Thailand. The wise elephant-headed Ganesha is one of Hinduism's most popular deities. Most people worship for siddhi (success in their undertakings) and for buddhi(intelligence) as he is also the patron saint of education, knowledge, wisdom, literature and fine arts.  

“Over 100 monks are involved in the process of forming these blessed amulets. The amulets would go through eight blessing ceremonies by 59 monks from south Thailand and Malaysia before they are distributed to the public,” he added.  

The chief abbot said with the distribution of the Jathukarm-Ramathep-Ganesha amulets, devotees would be able to differentiate the genuine amulets from the fake ones.  

The Kathina, Loy Krathong and Jathukarm-Ramathep-Ganesha blessing ceremonies, which began last night with the blessing of robes (Kathina),will continue today at 10am.  

The devotees will then gather for the Loy Krathong and cultural shows before a prayer ceremony led by a chief monk from Thailand, Kelantan and Penang. 

Then a float will take part in the Loy Krathong procession, starting at 9pm, from the temple to Gurney Drive, about 1.5km away. About 200 Thai dancers and drummers will also join in.