Wesak Day 17/5/2011

Happy Wesak Day!!

Who knows, there is actually such a magnificent place in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam. Come, let me show you 'my' new discovery. Not actually mine, hehe, but told by my mum's colleague.

Cars outside the Shah Alam Buddhist Society Building

So many cars...

At first we were stunned by the outnumbered cars along the roadside. This is the first time i experienced such a crowd for Wesak Day celebration. There are mostly Chinese and some Indians as well. As we were entering the building, we are required to remove our shoe wears. An area below the staircase is specially designed to keep our shoes with many tall shelves and you know what, they are all nearly full!!

Then, something funny happens. For the second time, my dad wore the same shirt with a guy we met there. The first time was when he is attending a friend's wedding ceremony. Haha XD... and he said, he'll never wear that shirt ever again,so paise. I bought the shirt in fact, never knew so many people have the same taste with me ^ ^.

My dad, in red white stripes...

The guy, with same shirt at the staircase...wakaka...XD

 The place is so loaded with people. We first bought some fresh flowers, for worship of Buddha later, and also bathing of Buddha. My mum donated some money for the society for development and charity purposes as well. On the way to the Great Hall for bathing of Buddha ceremony, there's a long queue to go. So, while queuing, we just looked around, exploring the new place, take some photos, etc.

So crowded until no place to walk ^ ^

Flowers bought...smells nice ^ ^

Dad and mum, queuing...

LCD screen showing activities of the day, so sophisticated!

My sis, daddy and mummy ^ ^
Taking photo while queuing =P

Me, daddy and mummy ^ ^

After the long queue, finally we are reaching the entrance of the Great Hall [大雄宝殿] for bathing the Buddha ceremony. The hall is HUGE!!! and AIR CONDITIONED!!! Thank goodness, for getting some cool air, it was a hot day indeed. In the hall, you can see the great statue of Buddha, solemnly sitting on the centre of the Hall, surrounded with flowers around Him. It was magnificent!!

Reaching the entrance of 大雄宝殿

Bathing Buddha ceremony on the stage...

Solemn statue of Buddha surrounded with flowers

Buddha statue (side view)

Daddy bathing the Buddha ^ ^

Speaking of what actually is bathing Buddha, i do not know very much as well, just go with the tradition, haha. But i searched online a little bit, and here it is Bathing Buddha. Next, we headed to the kitchen to have some vegetarian meal. The kitchen is located in the ground floor, and as before, it was as crowded. They have a large kitchen and dining hall, and after eating, we are required to wash our own plates and spoons. The food was not bad, but perhaps we dine in late, so not much left for us.

Crowded!!! Queuing for food ^ ^

Cute sister =P eating

Happy eating ^ ^

The kitchen

After the hearty meal, we continue exploring the place. Besides, the Great Hall and kitchen, there's also a Guan Yin Pu Sha 观音菩萨 museum,  pharmacy, meditation hall, classrooms for kids, and many many more. Every week, they have their own society's activities going on, for instance, Qi Gong classes, Tai Chi classes, prayers, meditation classes, and all sorts of other things. My mum especially love this place so much, since she is a devoted Buddhist. Too bad, i was less influenced by her in religion. Maybe its a matter of time. Before we left, we were able to write some wishes on paper leaves to be hanged on the Tree of Wishes ^ ^

Wishing well??

This incidental finding, really made my day. Who ever thought that, a supposedly boring, one day holiday of Wesak day would be so much fun with my family members and discovery of a new place. So, after the body purification ceremony, may my family and i would be in great shape, in the pink of health, all the best in everything we do. And may the wishing tree would make my wish come true...

^ ^