2008 Vesak Day

This year's Vesak Day will once again be held at the open-air Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia on April 18 to 19 from 10AM to 9PM.

Guests at the opening ceremony on April 18 (10:30AM) will include of prominent personalities from the religious community. They will be representing the Catholic, Hindu, Islamic and other faiths.

BACKGROUND

The exact date of Vesak, informally "Buddha's Birthday," is in the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar (typically May), coinciding with the first full moon of that month. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar and actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana), and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world. _{(souce: Wikipedia)}

Come and join the celebration ...

... Bathe the Buddha to receive blessings all year round.
... Make your wishes come true at the Wishing Bodhi Tree.
... Drop your kids at the Children’s Activity Center.
... Have your photo taken for a personalized souvenir.
... Stimulate your mind at the reading area.
... Watch the original all-Filipino production Siddhartha: A Musical Journey to Enlightenment.
... Enjoy the variety show on closing night.

For those who are interested in the religious aspect of the festival, the opening ceremony will include an Offering Ceremony where traditional objects like flowers, candles and fruits will be offered and blessed. Sutra Chanting accompanied by Buddhist musical instruments will be the highlight of the ceremony.

Visitors are encouraged to participate in the simple Buddha Bathing procedure where the participant ladles water on the statue of the infant Buddha in the following manner:

Bathe the right shoulder: “I vow to do good deeds.”
Bathe the left shoulder: “I vow to speak good words.”
Bathe the back: “I vow to have a good heart.”

The two-day event is open to the public, and admission is free.

Visit our website at http://fgsphilippines.org.

The short video shown below is from the 2007 Vesak Day celebration.