Another quiet affair this year as Malaysian Buddhists celebrate Wesak Day at home

GEORGE TOWN: Wesak Day is usually a lively public holiday with chants by monks and devotees seeking blessings and the lighting of joss sticks and lotus-shaped candles at the temples.

But since temple gates are shut, families are once again observing the celebration at home due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

IT personnel Teoh Seow Yin, 35, said it was her second year celebrating Wesak Day at home.

“It feels different but it is still meaningful.

“My husband, son and I celebrate it by watching Wesak Day programmes online and listening to Dhamma talks to remind ourselves about what Buddha teaches us about finding true happiness.

“In pre-pandemic times, we would perform the Buddha statue bathing ceremony at a temple and join in on the yearly parade. We usually volunteer at the temple as well during Wesak Day, ” she said yesterday.

However, this year, Teoh said she and her family performed the Buddha bathing at home.

“All you need for the ceremony is a clean container, water, flowers and essence.

“We offer the water to Buddha, and chant the mantra of Sri Devi Dharani or Great Compassion. Then, the water can be used to clean the altar, Buddha statue and bathe, ” she said.

Over at the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple in Kampar Road, a handful of devotees were seen hanging food and offerings on the gate for the celebration.

The temple, which usually sees over 2,000 devotees on Wesak Day, had its gates padlocked.

Housewife Lim Foo Lin, 60, said she usually takes part in the celebration and never missed attending prayers.

“The past two years have been different with celebrations now going online. I came to pass some roses and betel nut as offerings. I was told I can hang them on the gate.“After this, I will head home to watch some chanting videos. We will pray at home and spend the day listening to talks and prayers, ” she said.

Temple vice-chairman Dr Surya Dharamdass said less than 10 committee members were in the temple to conduct prayers.

“This is the second quiet Wesak Day celebration due to the pandemic. We have urged devotees to join in on the numerous online chanting sessions, meditation retreats and talks available through many sources.

“We will not be offering a live feed of the prayers as we know many others doing so. Families can observe the prayers within the comfort of their home, ” she said.

Dr Surya said devotees do come and hang food for monks on the temple gate daily.

“This time, some left offerings for the prayers. It is a normal practice for them to hang them on the gate and leave, ” she added.

Meanwhile, devotees were seen stopping for a minute to pray outside the gates of the Wat Buppharam Buddhist Temple in Perak Road and Penang Buddhist Association in Anson Road.

Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) executive secretary Chuah Cheng Ying, 44, was seen taking a video of the prayers at the Penang MBA building in Burmah Road for their devotees to watch from home.

In Kuala Lumpur, Buddhists in the capital celebrated Wesak Day on a moderate scale with the new normal practises in place due to the nationwide movement control order.

Although devotees were not allowed to visit temples, the use of technology has helped them to participate in prayer services via online streaming, as carried out by the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association and Bandar Utama Buddhist Society.National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, in her Wesak Day message, said the peaceful Wesak celebration demonstrated that the people in the country enjoy the freedom of religion which has become a symbol of national unity.“Efforts to embrace and cultivate noble values among today’s society should be further strengthened, especially when the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We should take advantage of this opportunity to embody the true meaning of unity, ” she said.

The ministry had earlier advised that no devotees would be allowed at temples for Wesak Day under the MCO 3.0 standard operating procedures.

The ministry said there could only be 10 people consisting of a monk and committee members for the Wesak Day ritual, adding that only one ritual session per temple was allowed on that day between 6am and 2pm, while the Buddha-decorated float procession was not allowed.