One of the most well-known cultural events in Asia, Vesak Day is a celebration among Buddhists, whose religion is based on the teachings of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, who hailed from northeastern India.

Vesak Day is celebrated in various Asian countries, including Malaysia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, to reinforce a universal message of peace. Vesak Day commemorates three major events—the birth, enlightenment at age 35, and death at age 80 of Buddha.

This day is celebrated in different ways given the diverse Buddhist cultures around the world. In Singapore, Buddhists make up 33.3 per cent of the population (according to the Singapore Census of Population 2010). Among the Singaporean and foreign residents who celebrate Vesak Day here are Chinese, Indian and Myanmar devotees.

The Chinese

Chinese Buddhists practice Mahayana (‘Greater Way’) Buddhism, and form the majority of Buddhists here. The Shuang Lin Temple in Toa Payoh is the oldest Buddhist temple in Singapore, but one of the biggest and most popular is the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple at Bright Hill Road. Up to 20,000 people gather there annually to mark Vesak Day by carrying out the “three-step, onebow” ritual. Devotees take steps on both knees and bow at every third step as they pray for world peace, personal blessings and repentance. The two-hour procession begins 24 hours before Vesak Day. Acts of generosity known as dana are also observed, and some Buddhists free caged birds and animals and give alms to the poor and needy. Buddhist youth are also known to organise blood donation drives.

The Indians

Indian Buddhists know Vesak Day as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, and mark the occasion in various ways. Besides abstaining from meat to show compassion to animals, they gather at the popular Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple in Little India to offer flowers, candles and joss sticks at the feet of bhikshus (monks). They also observe full-length Buddhist sutras, which are similar to prayer services. Kheer, sweet rice porridge, is commonly served to devotees to recall how a young maiden called Sujata offered Buddha a bowl of it as his last meal before a long fast towards enlightenment.

The Myanmar

Myanmar devotees practise Theravada (‘Ancient Teaching’) Buddhism, which focuses on seeking one’s own path to salvation. Vesak Day is better known among this community as Ka-sone-lapyae or “Fullmoon Day of Kasone”, Kasone being the second month of the Myanmar calender. Traditions practised include the watering and taking special care of Bodhi trees, in reverence of Buddha attaining enlightenment while meditating under such a tree. Like the Indians, Myanmar devotees also mark the occasion by eating kheer.

Vesak Day

On Vesak Day, Devotees flock to these temples to participate in prayer sessions, present offerings and seek forgiveness. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple 88 Bright Hill Road

The temple, also known as Bright Hill Temple, was founded in 1921. Today, it draws thousands of Buddhists each year to its various attractions including a crematorium, the Hall of Ten Thousand Pagodas and a sapling from the Bodhi tree in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment. On the top floor of its four-storey. Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall is one of Asia’s largest bronze Buddha images, measuring 13.8 metres in height and weighing 55 tonnes.

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple
366 Race Course Road

Often called the Temple of 1,000 Lights, this popular temple—located at a busy intersection in Little India—boasts a 15 metre-high statue of a seated Buddha that weighs nearly 300 tonnes. There are also wall murals depicting the various life stages of Shakyamuni Buddha and a sacred, stylised footprint of Buddha in ebony and mother-of-pearl, among other images and effi gies. Behind the main hall is a statue of the Dying Buddha reclining under a Yellow Seraka tree.

Burmese Buddhist Temple (Maha Sasana Ramsi)
14 Tai Gin Road

The replacement of a smaller predecessor located at 17 Kinta Road, this majestic temple is home to a 3.3 metre-tall marble sculpture of Buddha. It is the first and only Myanmar Buddhist temple built outside Myanmar in the traditional style, and its magnificent pure white marble Buddha is the biggest enshrined outside Myanmar. The temple is also a venue for traditional Myanmar celebrations likeThingyan, the Myanmar New Year.

The Singapore Buddhist Federation is organising a Vesak Day Celebration at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on April 30 and May 1. Full details are available at www.vesakcelebrations.sg

This article was written by Tina Wang and first published in the Apr-Jun 2011 issue of Singapore Magazine.