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| Singapore Travel » Singapore Information » Wesak Day Festival in Singapore |
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Wesak Day Festival in Singapore |
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The Wesak Day is celebrated and observed with great religious fervor by the Buddhists in Singapore. The Wesak Day is an auspicious day commemorating Lord Buddha's holy birth, His attainment of the nirvana and His passing away for the heavenly abode. The Wesak Day is the holiest day for the Buddhists. In 2007 the Wesak Day falls on the 2nd of May. |
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History of the Wesak Day
The history of the Wesak Day dates back to the first World-Fellowship Conference of
the Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in the year 1950.Participants attending the conference
urged the leaders of the Nations having significant number of Buddhist population
to make the full-moon day of May every year a national holiday like Nepal. The Wesak
Day is celebrated by the Buddhists as the commemoration of Lord Buddha's birth ,his
attainment of the Nirvana and his departure for the heavenly abode |
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Celebration of the Wesak Day Festival in Singapore
On Wesak Day the followers and devotees of Lord Buddha gather at the precincts of the
temple to hoist the sacred Buddhist flag and sing hymns praising the three gems viz the
Lord Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha. They also offer flower, incense-stick and
candle to the Lord which draw a symbolic parallel to the inevitable decay and decadence
of the human body just like the withering away of the flowers and the burning out of the
incense sticks and candles. The temples arrange for exhibitions and initiation
ceremonies are also undertaken in some of the temples. The monks deliver sermons
and teachings of the lord Buddha.
The Wesak day is celebrated in all of the Buddhist temples in Singapore but
The more notable celebrations are held at:
- The Tibetan-Buddhist temple at the Jalan Toa Payoh
- The Thai-Buddhist temple at the Jalan Bukit Merah
- The River Valley Road's Buddhist lodge.
Main Observances of the Wesak Day Festival in Singapore
The Buddhists observe the Wesak Day by meditating and taking part in charitable
activities. Some followers also take part in blood donations. The followers are instructed
to stay away from hunting and killing any living being and they also stick to a vegetarian
meal throughout the day. The Day finally comes to an end with a candle-lit procession
undertaken by the devotees.
For details and information on other festivals in Singapore visit the
sitefocussingapore.com
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