Wesak Day at Jalan Gasing Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple

PETALING JAYA – Wesak is a holiest day for Buddhists and celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and his passing away.

Wesak Day at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, Petaling Jaya
A Buddhist couple touches the hand of a Reclining Buddha to bring blessing of good fortune during the Wesak Day celebrations at Thai Buddhist  Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya.

Buddhists throughout the country gathered in temples to pay homage to Lord Buddha on Wesak Day.

Wesak is a holiest day for Buddhists and celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and his passing away.

According to Buddhists, the three significant events in Buddha’s life took place on the same date.

At the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Jalan Pantai, off Jalan Gasing in Petaling Jaya, the Wesak Day celebrations on May 24, 2013 saw large numbers of Buddhists offered prayers while others offered fresh flowers and lights in the form of oil lamps.

Among the crowd of devotees were Karthigeyan, 18, a Hindu, from Sungai Buluh and his parents who joined the Wesak Day celebrations in true spirit of religious harmony.

“Every Wesak Day, we come here to pray to get Buddha’s blessing. We feel like we are more successful in my studies as well as good fortune to my father’s business,” said the 18-year-old student who will be studying for his Diploma in Nautical Studies at Akademi Laut Malaysia in Malacca in August.

His father Retnam Ramasamy, 48, who runs a landscaping company, said “Before I got married, I stayed here in Petaling Jaya, and the Buddhist temple holds a special place in my heart even though I am a Hindu.

“We come here to pray for Buddha’s blessings of peace, good health, good fortune and success.”

Wesak Day Main Shrine, Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, Petaling Jaya
Devotees pray to the Lord Buddha at the main shrine hall of Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya.
Wesak Day -Monks conducting prayer at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple PJ
A monk sprinkling holy water on devotees during prayer on Wesak Day at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya.
Wesak Day at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in PJ
Buddhists rubbing the belly of the Buddha of Happiness and Wealth for happiness, inspiration and good fortune during the Wesak Day celebrations at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya.
Wesak Day - Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple,  Petaling Jaya
Buddhists perform the “Bathing the Buddha” to symbolise cleansing and purification of the mind.
Wesak Day at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple,  Petaling Jaya
Devotees inserting coins into the alms bowls carried by 18 Buddha statues lining in a row at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, Petaling Jaya.
Wesak Day Main Shrine, Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, Petaling Jaya
Devotees performing “Ringing the  Bells” ritual to represent offerings to all the Buddhas.
Wesak Day at Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya
Landscape business owner Retnam Ramasamy (left) and son Karthigeyan visits the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya every Wesak Day.