PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has extended Wesak Day greetings from Seoul, where he is attending the Asian Leadership Conference.
"I am not able to join the devotees back home for the celebration today, but I visited the Jogyesa Temple, which is near the conference venue," he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (May 22).
"In Korea, there is no Wesak Day celebration but the Buddha's birthday, also known as Seokga Tansinil, is a major holiday celebrated nationwide on the eighth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar by Buddhists in the country.
"They just had a grand celebration on May 15," the MCA president added.
He said both Wesak Day and Buddha's birthday honour the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha but are celebrated in different cultural contexts and with distinct customs and practices.
"The highlight of the celebration in Seoul is the lotus lantern festival called 'Yeondeunghoe', where thousands of colourful paper lanterns, normally in the shape of lotus flowers, are hung in temples and streets.
"Here's wishing all Buddhists a serene Wesak Day filled with peace, compassion and enlightenment.
"Happy Wesak Day," he added.
