PETALING JAYA: Worshippers quietly lit incense, offered flowers and gathered in prayer, marking Wesak Day with reflection, gratitude and renewed spiritual purpose.
Among the early visitors to the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya was customer service executive Shobanaa Kumarasamy, 32, who has made it a tradition to visit multiple Buddhist temples every Wesak, despite being a Hindu.
“This has been my yearly ritual since 2017 when I was studying tourism at university,” she said.
Her curiosity about the significance of Wesak Day and its close connection between Hinduism and Buddhism led her to begin visiting Buddhist temples, before eventually introducing the practice to her family.
“I told my parents we should try visiting temples during Wesak because it provides a positive environment and energy,” she said, adding that her Wesak itinerary typically includes visiting three or four temples in Kuala Lumpur, beginning as early as 6am.
“This temple has a very good vibe. Whenever you have negative thoughts, everything vanishes when you enter the temple.
“It’s like a detox,” she said after offering incense sticks, flowers and oil lamps.
She plans to continue her temple-hopping tradition even after marriage saying, “I will teach my future children and ask them keep this tradition”.
Fresh graduate Kor Mey Mey, 25, said this year’s Wesak was special as this was her first time visiting this temple.
She described the experience as a personal journey of rediscovering her roots after years of focusing on her studies and work.
“I have always wanted to come here but never had the chance. It is a long weekend and I felt it was time to reconnect,” she said.
Kor, who grew up in Kelantan and now lives in Kuala Lumpur, said she missed the sense of community she once experienced through Buddhist youth activities.
“The smell of the incense made me feel like I have finally reconnected. I really missed moments like this,” she said.
For 38-year-old accountant, who wanted to be known as Lim, the celebration was less about personal reflection and more about passing on traditions to the next generation.
This year marked the first time he and his wife brought their seven-year-old son and one-year-old daughter to celebrate Wesak together as a family.
“Previously, the children were still very young so I usually came alone,” he said.
Despite the crowd and limited parking near the temple, Lim felt it was important for his children to experience the occasion firsthand.
