Wesak Day The World Over
Wesak is a big event in the worldwide Buddhist calendar! In view of the recent Wesak festivities, just how did the other countries around the world celebrate this day? I saw these pictures on MSN Malaysia and I thought I would share this with all of you.
Tsem Rinpoche
Wesak in Malaysia, around the world
Source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4850536
Referred to by many names across the world, Wesak (as it is known in Malaysia) commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha. Buddhists throughout the globe marked and celebrated Wesak. Here were the scenes from Malaysia to Sri Lanka. PHOTOS BELOW.
Malaysia
Devotees wishing to rejuvenate their spirits unfurl a giant canvas measuring 60 meters by 12 meters with a painting of Sakyamuni Buddha out in the sun to dry in a Wesak Day event in Ipoh, Malaysia Tuesday, May 17, 2011. In Malaysia Buddha’s birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja (Buddha’s Birthday Celebrations), thus the most important Buddhist festival of the year. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
A devotees pours water on a little statue of Buddha in a “bathing Buddha” ritual before the Drying Buddha ceremony at a Tibetan temple during Wesak day in Ipoh, Malaysia, May 17, 2011.
A devotee carrying a little statue of Buddha waits before the Drying Buddha ceremony at a Tibetan temple in Ipoh, Malaysia, May 17, 2011.
A high priest in a costume and mask performs the prayer before the Drying Buddha ceremony at a Tibetan temple during a Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, May 17, 2011.
A devotee spins prayer wheels at a Tibetan temple during a Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
A high priest in a costume and mask performs the prayer before the Drying Buddha ceremony at a Tibetan temple during a Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, May 17, 2011.
Thailand
Thai Buddhist monks gather at Wat Dhammakaya on the outskirts of Bangkok to participate in Visakha Bucha Day ceremonies Tuesday, May 17, 2011. On this day devout Buddhist and followers gather to celebrate the three precepts of Buddha, his birth, his enlightenment and his death. Visakha Bucha Day is recognized as the most important day in Buddhism. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
Thai Buddhist monks gather in downtown Bangkok during a mass alms offering ceremony Sunday, May 8, 2011, on the occasion of Visakha Puja day. Visakha Puja celebrates Buddha’s enlightenment, and this year marks the 2,600th anniversary of the event. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
A lone Thai Buddhist gathers at Wat Dhammakaya on the outskirts of Bangkok to participate in Visakha Bucha Day ceremonies Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Thai Buddhist monks gather in downtown Bangkok during a mass alms offering ceremony Sunday, May 8, 2011, on the occasion of Visakha Puja day.
India
A Buddhist monk performs rituals during Buddha Purnima in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Buddha Purnima marks the birth, enlightenment and demise of Buddha. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A Buddhist monk walks with prayer items during Buddha Purnima in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees carry a statue of Lord Buddha during the religious week coinciding with Buddha Poornima in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. This year Buddhists mark the 2600th anniversary of the enlightenment of Buddha. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees gather at a temple during the religious week coinciding with Buddha Poornima in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Sri Lankan workers walk past a giant structure depicting Buddhist epics constructed as a part of the religious week coinciding with Buddha Purnima, or Vesak, in Colombo, Sri Lanka,Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees gather at a temple during the religious week coinciding with Buddha Purnima, or Vesak, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi Buddhist woman offers prayers in front of a statue of Buddha during Buddha Purnima in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Buddha Purnima marks the birth, enlightenment and demise of Buddha. (AP Photo/ Pavel Rahman)
Cambodia
Cambodian Buddhist monks march and prayer during Visakha Bochea at Udong in Kandal province, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. More than one thousand of Cambodia Buddhist monk, civil servant and resident on Tuesday gather to mark the Visak Bochea, the holiest day of the Buddhist calendar marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha on the day of the full moon in May. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Indonesia
In this late Tuesday, May 17, 2011, Indonesian Buddhists fly lanterns during a celebration of Vesak day, which marks the birth, enlightenment and demise of Buddha at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these beautiful pics. This year is the first year, I truly celebrate Wesak Day (even though my birth certificate says I am a Buddhist). And what made it so much more more meaningful, I celebrate it by taking Refuge from your Eminence. Thank you. I have been exceptionally blessed this past year since getting to know Kechara & Tsem Rinpoche.
I also thank Liaison Su Ming for calling me about the Refuge session. It was very kind of her to do so.
Thank you dear Rinpoche for sharing all these beautiful pictures from countries around the world celebrating Wesak day.
I noticed many devotees offered lights on this occasion to signify the dispell of ignorance within ourselves. The picture I like most are the Bangladesh lady making her offering and prayer, and the Borobudur temple in Indonesia.
Thank you for sharing with us what Wesak Day is like all over the world. I like all the picture. They are really beautiful picture of people making offering and prayers. May one day Kechara do a very large scale of Wesak celebration that attract a lot of people.
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful pictures with us. It would be wonderful celebrating Wesak Day at this scale when KWPC is up.