Ten-day Wesak celebration in Penang begins May 3
(From left to right) Lim, Penang Wesak Celebration 2025 assistant honorary secretary Ven Fa Zun as well as vice-chairmen Ven Kai Ning and Teh Lai Heng looking at lotus-themed paper crafts on display during the press conference. — KT GOH/The Star
The annual Penang Wesak Celebration 2025 will feature craft-making, float procession and lotus-themed exhibition.
This year's theme is 'Foster True Compassion and Wisdom, Forge True Peace and Harmony'.
Event festivities will start with an opening ceremony to be held at 6.30pm on May 3 at the Lim Poon Kim Memorial Hall in the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) along Jalan Burma, George Town.
The bathing of the Buddha statue ritual will be performed daily until May 12.
There will also be an MBA float procession.
The lotus-themed exhibition from May 3 to 12, will showcase calligraphy, paintings, presentations and other Buddhist items.
On May 3 and 4, two Sri Lankan monks will perform live demonstrations of the ancient Buddhist art forms of ola leaf (palm leaf) manuscript engraving.
For those wanting to learn various lotus-themed crafts, there will be a craft workshop using origami methods and eco-friendly paper.
The 10-day event is an initiative by the state government, organised by MBA.
It is supported by Penang Harmony Corporation.
This year, the celebration is co-organised by Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia, Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia and various temples and Buddhist organisations in Penang.
State social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim pointed out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the celebration, with breaks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
'It was initiated by the state government and organised by MBA in 2012.
'Over the past decade, we have not only witnessed the unity of the Buddhist community but how kindness and positive energy can connect religion with society,' she said during a press conference at MBA.
Lim, who is also Penang Wesak Celebration 2025 deputy chairman, explained that the lotus is a symbol of purification and enlightenment in Buddhism.
This inspired this year's exhibition theme 'Untouched by water like the lotus, and unattached like the sun and moon that does not linger in the sky'.
She added that the lotus theme serves as a reminder that, even amid worldly distractions, people can still maintain clarity and peace of mind.
'Whether you are coming to bathe the Buddha, admire the lotus exhibition, or enjoy the float procession, it is a wonderful chance to experience Buddhist values.'
For more information, visit 'Penang Wesak Celebration Day 2025' Facebook page.
Wesak Day this year falls on May 12.
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