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The Star
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Dazzling floats brighten parade
THIS year's Wesak Day procession in Penang was a spectacle for the senses, featuring a series of performances and floats adorned with thousands of flowers. There were also a glistening Bodhi tree, towering inflatable Buddha statues and a LED screen displaying the story of Buddha. Devotees followed with flowers in hand, offering prayers as the floats paused every few metres along the route in George Town. Children were seen singing and wishing onlookers a Happy Wesak Day, while monks chanted prayers. Walking behind one of the floats was Ong Chin Chai, 56, who was spotted pushing his three dogs in a stroller. Ong stood out among the parade participants as his two poodles and a Pomeranian were seen enjoying their evening. 'Every year, I go to pray during Wesak Day, but this is my first time following the procession,' said Ong. Ang (right) with his wife and children checking outone of the floats. 'This year I want to give thanks for the blessings in my life, and decided to walk the entire length of the procession. 'I am used to taking my dogs out and wanted them to experience the celebration this year as well. They enjoy it and do not mind the loud music and chanting,' said the e-hailing driver. Yeoh Ban Aik, 46, who runs a cafe, said while he could not walk the entire stretch, he wanted his children to experience seeing the different types of floats every year. 'We make it a point to come pray and then I take my kids to walk around and see the floats before the start of the procession. 'My children are now nine and four, and perhaps when they are older we will walk with the floats,' he said. 'It is important to educate the young ones about Buddha's teachings and it's nice to do so during a celebration,' Yeoh added. Manager Ang Wei Cheng, 40, drove over from mainland Penang to the island to see the Wesak procession. 'This year I thought it would be nice for my three children to see the procession. We sat by the roadside and watched it together,' he said. Devotees from Buddhist Triple Wisdom Hall taking part in the float procession. Ang said as a Buddhist, he observed being vegetarian on Wesak Day. 'It is not a new year or festival for us; rather it is a time to celebrate Buddha's life and teachings. 'It is nice that the floats in many ways depict his life's story,' he said. The Wesak Day procession began at 6.30pm from Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) in Burma Road. Themed 'Foster True Compassion and Wisdom, Forge True Peace and Harmony', this year's celebration featured over 20 floats in the grand parade. The parade has been organised by the Penang Wesak Celebrations committee since 1949. The ornately decorated floats from various associations and temples, all depicting Buddha, followed a 7km route starting and ending at the MBA building. The procession moved along Kelawei Road and Burma Lane, where the Burmese Buddhist Temple and the Siamese Reclining Buddha Temple are located. The route continued onto another stretch of Burma Road, followed by Peel Avenue, Macalister Road, Perak Road and Anson Road before returning to MBA after dark. SMJK Phor Tay students putting on a drum performance during the celebration. Penang Wesak Day Celebrations committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun said this year marked the 2,569th commemoration of the Thrice Blessed Day of Gautama Buddha, honouring his birth, enlightenment and attainment of Mahaparinirvana. He said the celebration was an opportunity to unite a community in faith. 'I hope that mutual respect would be practised among all individuals, as it is the foundation of national harmony,' he said. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was the guest of honour, said the annual float procession, rich in spiritual and cultural symbolism, continued to reflect Penang's vibrant multicultural harmony and shared values. 'Each year during Wesak, beautifully decorated floats parade through the streets, with devotees offering prayers in reverence. 'These celebrations attract people of all ethnicities and visitors, making it not only a religious observance but a vibrant display of unity and harmony,' he said.
The Star
12-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Final touches before Wesak Day
Devotees at a prayer session led by monks at the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Burma Road, Penang before the Buddha statue was moved from the hall to the float to be decorated with flowers for the Wesak Day procession. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI and ART CHEN/The Star BUDDHISTS in Malaysia observe Wesak Day today, honouring the birth, enlightenment and passing into Mahaparinirvana of Gautama Buddha. At temples nationwide, staff and volunteers have been busy preparing for the celebration. Temples have been adorned with lights, floral decorations and devotional offerings, as devotees and volunteers come together in a shared spirit of faith and community. During Wesak, devotees make offerings such as flowers, joss sticks, incense and lotus-shaped candles. In Petaling Jaya, Selangor, the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, which blends Thai and Malaysian practices, will welcome devotees for a series of rituals including prayer sessions, almsgiving and other activities to mark the occasion. They have been decorating vibrant floats, setting up ceremonial areas and organising religious events in the lead-up to the festival. At the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Burma Road, Penang, preparations have been made for the annual Wesak float procession starting at 6pm today. Workers busy sprucing up the temple facade, cleaning up ceremonial areas and setting up tents in preparation for Wesak Day at the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The celebrations began earlier last week with a lotus-themed exhibition featuring Buddhist calligraphy, paintings and cultural displays. Wesak Day is commemorated by lighting joss sticks, incense and lotus-shaped candles, offering flowers and ceremonially bathing the Buddha statue.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Penang makes final preparations to receive 10,000 visitors on Wesak Day
GEORGE TOWN: The final preparations for Wesak Day celebration on Monday are underway in Penang, with more than 10,000 Buddhists and visitors expected to attend the festival in the state. A Bernama survey at the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) building in Jalan Burma, here found dozens of volunteers preparing parade vehicles by decorating them with thousands of flowers, as well as setting up 10 tents in the area. Preparations for the celebration are also going well in several areas around the state, including at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Chaiya Mangalaram Thai Buddhist Temple in Lorong Burma and the Wat Buppharam Buddhist Temple in Jalan Perak here. According to Penang Wesak Celebration Committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun, his team has started preparations for the Wesak Day celebration in the past two weeks to ensure everything goes smoothly with the fire lighting ceremony to be held tomorrow night (April 11). 'Themed 'Foster True Compassion and Wisdom, Forge True Peace and Harmony', this year's celebration in Penang will feature a grand parade on Monday starting at 6 pm, a tradition since 1949. 'A total of 20 decorated floats from various associations and temples will parade for seven kilometres starting from the MBA building and ending there,' he told Bernama. He added that a lotus-themed exhibition from May 3 to May 12, showcasing calligraphy, paintings, performances and other Buddhist items is also being held at MBA Building. Meanwhile, state Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Wesak Day celebration which was organised as a collaboration between the state government and MBA. She said the celebration this year will last for 10 days from May 3 to May 12 with various programmes planned for the various communities. 'This year, on Wesak Day (May 12), visitors will have the opportunity to witness the beauty of the Buddhist festival including a decorated chariot parade and Buddhists are invited to celebrate together. 'Over the past decade, we have not only witnessed the unity of the Buddhist community but also how goodness and positive energy can connect religion with society,' she said. Wesak Day is the most important celebration for Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the founder of the religion, Siddhartha Gautama. It is celebrated by lighting lamps, lotus-shaped candles, scattering flowers and bathing Buddha statues.
The Star
10-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Penang makes final preparations to receive 10,000 visitors on Wesak Day
GEORGE TOWN: The final preparations for Wesak Day celebration on Monday are underway in Penang, with more than 10,000 Buddhists and visitors expected to attend the festival in the state. A Bernama survey at the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) building in Jalan Burma here found dozens of volunteers preparing parade vehicles by decorating them with thousands of flowers, as well as setting up 10 tents in the area. Preparations for the celebration are also going well in several areas around the state, including at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Chaiya Mangalaram Thai Buddhist Temple in Lorong Burma and the Wat Buppharam Buddhist Temple in Jalan Perak here. According to Penang Wesak celebration committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun, his team started preparations for the Wesak Day celebration in the past two weeks to ensure everything goes smoothly with the fire lighting ceremony to be held on Sunday night (May 11). "Themed 'Foster True Compassion and Wisdom, Forge True Peace and Harmony', this year's celebration in Penang will feature a grand parade on Monday (May 12) starting at 6pm, a tradition since 1949. "A total of 20 decorated floats from various associations and temples will parade for 7km starting from the MBA building and ending there,' he told Bernama. He added that a lotus-themed exhibition from May 3 to May 12, showcasing calligraphy, paintings, performances and other Buddhist items is also being held at the MBA Building. Meanwhile, state social development, welfare and non-Muslim religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Wesak Day celebration which was organised as a collaboration between the state government and MBA. She said the celebration this year will last for 10 days from May 3 to May 12 with varied programmes planned for the various communities. "This year, on Wesak Day (May 12), visitors will have the opportunity to witness the beauty of the Buddhist festival, including a decorated chariot parade and Buddhists are invited to celebrate together. "Over the past decade, we have not only witnessed the unity of the Buddhist community but also how goodness and positive energy can connect religion with society,' she said. Wesak Day is the most important celebration for Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the founder of the religion, Siddhartha Gautama. It is celebrated by lighting lamps, lotus-shaped candles, scattering flowers and bathing Buddha statues.- Bernama
The Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Penang preps to receive 10,000 visitors on Wesak Day
GEORGE TOWN: The final preparations for Wesak Day celebration on Monday are underway in Penang, with more than 10,000 Buddhists and visitors expected to attend the festival in the state. A Bernama survey at the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) building in Jalan Burma, here found dozens of volunteers preparing parade vehicles by decorating them with thousands of flowers, as well as setting up 10 tents in the area. Preparations for the celebration are also going well in several areas around the state, including at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Chaiya Mangalaram Thai Buddhist Temple in Lorong Burma and the Wat Buppharam Buddhist Temple in Jalan Perak here. According to Penang Wesak Celebration Committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun, his team has started preparations for the Wesak Day celebration in the past two weeks to ensure everything goes smoothly with the fire lighting ceremony to be held tomorrow night (April 11). 'Themed 'Foster True Compassion and Wisdom, Forge True Peace and Harmony', this year's celebration in Penang will feature a grand parade on Monday starting at 6 pm, a tradition since 1949. 'A total of 20 decorated floats from various associations and temples will parade for seven kilometres starting from the MBA building and ending there,' he told Bernama. He added that a lotus-themed exhibition from May 3 to May 12, showcasing calligraphy, paintings, performances and other Buddhist items is also being held at MBA Building. Meanwhile, state Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Wesak Day celebration which was organised as a collaboration between the state government and MBA. She said the celebration this year will last for 10 days from May 3 to May 12 with various programmes planned for the various communities. 'This year, on Wesak Day (May 12), visitors will have the opportunity to witness the beauty of the Buddhist festival including a decorated chariot parade and Buddhists are invited to celebrate together. 'Over the past decade, we have not only witnessed the unity of the Buddhist community but also how goodness and positive energy can connect religion with society,' she said. Wesak Day is the most important celebration for Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the founder of the religion, Siddhartha Gautama. It is celebrated by lighting lamps, lotus-shaped candles, scattering flowers and bathing Buddha statues.
