Wesak Day in Melaka

May 1, 2007 is Wesak Day. This is the last of the 20-odd) float that passed through Melaka town on the eve of Wesak. This float carried the Buddha statue from the Seck Kia Eenh temple in Gajah Berang. Many devotees chose to walk behind this float.

Walking in a procession helps to develop your mindfulness and encourages good thoughts which eventually radiate from you to others around you. People are comfortable with gatherings in the midst of a colourful setting nowadays. But Wesak is much more than that. It’s about inner spiritual development.

... chief monk of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

The Buddhist community in Malacca have always ushered in Wesak on the eve. After the float returns to the temple premises, it is almost always close to midnight, where a special Wesak service will be conducted.

Other activities to celebrate Wesak this year:

1. In Penang, there is a

concert of light and wisdom,

featuring modern pop songs, with some specially written and composed for the celebration, and dances.

2. In the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumput, there is a exhibition of wood sculptures which shows the Buddha illustrating 29 hand gestures. Now you will be able to understand what the different hand gestures symbolises. Exhibition ends May 15, 2007.

Read more about Enlightening gestures

On June 6- 10th, there will be a Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007
to be held at the Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Center, Mines City Resort, Kuala Lumpur. There will be drama and performances, chanting, movie screenings and an exhibition on Buddhism at the exhibition.