A Colouful Festival and "Twinkling" with blessing in Melaka, Malaysia.
Introduction....
Wesak Day is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. The day is to commemorate the anniversary of Prince Siddhartha"’"s birth, enlightenment and passing away. This day is also known as the "Trice Blessing". Devotees all over the world will pack the Buddhist"’"s temples in the morning to meditate or chant prayers.
In Malaysia, this celebration falls during the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, coinciding with the first full moon of that month. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar but falls either in April or May.
Melaka Wesak Day
In Melaka, this celebrations have been organized by Seck Kia Eenh Temple since early 1960. It was believed that the eve of Wesak Day procession was initiated by the late Ven. Ananda Mangala Maha Nayaka Thera. Since then, this annual procession keeps on attracting people.
According to Bhante Ratanasiri; a Sri Lanka reverend from Seck Kia Eenh;"”"We celebrate the Wesak Day for seven days at Seck Kia Eench Temple. The activities held are the practice of the Eight Principle, Dharma Talk and chanting. Aside from that, we also introduce the "Pindapata Traditions." This is a traditional event where the devotees and non-devotees offer food to the monk."”"
I am always curious to know what the "main essence" of holding the Wesak Day procession is. Isn"’"t it all about meditation and chanting prayers in the temple? I was enlightened by the simple answers that I received from Bhante Ratanasiri; " The evening procession is to share the blessings with others."
This year, more than 10,000 Buddhist devotees in Melaka took part during the celebrations. As usual, everyone gathered at Seck Kia Eench temple as early as 5.00p.m to chant prayers. Later, all the devotees will line up at their respective floats for the annual procession.
At 7.00 p.m, the Wesak Day procession took off from Seck Kia Eench temple at Jalan Gajah Berang. The procession will move through Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pengkalan Rama to Jalan Laksamana over Tan Kim Seng bridge and moving along Lorong Hang Jebat before moving on to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street) and lastly along Jalan Tengkera before returning to the temple.
Around 33 Buddhist Temples "&" associations took part in this 8 kilometer walk. It involved around 16 colouful and brightly lit floats, lion dance troupe from several associations, a 30 meter long dragon (a dragon dance troupe) and several school bands providing rhythm for the devotees and bystanders along the 8 kilometer walk.
Some of the floats, bearing the Lord Buddha"’"s image were accompanied by devotees carrying "kemenyan", candles in the shape of lotus flower and fresh flowers mainly yellow and white in colour. Others carried joss sticks, Wesak flags and baskets full of candies to distribute to bystanders especially children watching along the 8km procession.
Aside from the floats bearing the Buddha"’"s image or statue, there was one particular float that bystanders were waiting patiently. It was the "floating monks Float" introduced 9 years ago by Bhante Ratanasiri.
This year, there were eleven monks sitting and chanting along the procession. Two of the monks sprinkling holy water on the devotees as the float passed along the narrow street of Melaka during the procession. They also distribute small bottles of holy water and sweets to the devotees.
Although the procession celebration ended at around 10.30p.m, the Wesak celebrations resume with all night chanting at Seck Kia Eench and more chanting and prayers the nest day during the actual day itself. Click here for more photos
