Buddhists look forward to Wesak float

Wesak spirit: Malaysian Buddhist Institute students and priests decorating one of the floats with flowers in conjunction with the Penang Wesak Day 2023 celebration at the Malaysian Buddhist Association in George Town, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The 7km Wesak Day procession is back after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

Twenty-five organisations are taking part in the event, which will see the procession make one round from the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) building in Burma Road here at 6pm on May 4.

It will pass by Pangkor Road, Kelawei Road, Lorong Burma, Perak Road, Peel Avenue, Macalister Road, Anson Road and Madras Lane before returning to MBA at around 11pm.

About 200 volunteers have been involved in the preparations, which include cleaning and decorating the floats.

Financial adviser Wong Weng Wai, 40, from Bayan Lepas, said he would bring his two children to witness the procession.

“It is a good time to catch a glimpse of the procession and at the same time, expose them to orthodox Buddhism.

“Everything has returned to normal, and we can now fulfil our religious obligations,” said Wong, who was one of the devotees to witness the launch of the festive celebrations at the MBA building yesterday.

In conjunction with the festival, a series of programmes such as health screenings, bathing the Buddha ritual, and an exhibition will be held at the MBA building until Thursday.

The activities, which are free to the public, will be conducted from 9am to 5pm (today), 9am to 10pm (tomorrow and Wednesday) and 9am to 7pm on Thursday.

Finance officer Tan Wendy, 40, was overjoyed that she would be able to join the procession after three years.

A volunteer at a temple in Bayan Baru, Tan, said her daughter was having a good time taking part in the Buddha ritual and enjoyed the exhibition.

Malaysian Buddhist Institute student Shi Wu Xian, 50, said many people were looking forward to celebrating the festival.

“The good times are back now and we are happy that we can celebrate this year,” she said.

Accoding to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who launched the celebrations, all Buddhist temples and groups in the state have come together to share the joy of Wesak, which is the most important festival celebrated by the Buddhist community.

He went on to say that the exhibition showcased the significance of the three major Buddhist traditions – Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana – which fully demonstrate the diversity and inclusiveness of the religion.

Adding to that, he highlighted that the exhibition also displayed the calligraphy works of the first MBA chairman, the late Rev Zhu Mo.

Chow said the Buddhist community would benefit through these educational and cultural activities, conducted in line with the theme for this year’s Wesak Day celebrations – United Progress Towards National Prosperity and Resilient Citizens.