A Truly ‘Green’ Heritage Procession at Nalanda
The Wesak Procession held annually in Sri Serdang by Nalanda Buddhist Society is a truly unique experience! It is the only procession in Malaysia where the Buddharupam (image) is paraded on a wooden sedan and carried by 12 men taking turns. There is also a second Buddharupam ferried on a bahtera (boat), pulled by devotees along the 1.3km procession route. Devotees cover the route in 2,600 mindful steps, marking the 2,600th Anniversary of Buddhism this year.
Besides the sedan and bahtera, there is an assortment of colourful parasols, figurines and flags on parade, which are borne by devotees in traditional Nalandian uniform of sarong and white tops. Students of Nalanda Dharma School will also put up a spirited ‘Naga Dance’, accompanied by the beats of drums, gong and cymbals. The sights and sounds of the Nalandian procession rich in heritage is truly something to behold. It is also an event much anticipated and photographed; in fact, the procession was even featured on a Sri Lankan television programme on Wesak celebrations!
1 May 2012
1 May is designated ‘Nalanda Day’; it marks the 9th anniversary of Nalanda’s founding. On this day, Nalandians congregated for morning devotion at the Shrine Hall, before gathering in the Srivijaya Hall, where important Society events are usually held.
Among the many significant ‘news’ for the day were the launchings of Nalanda’s revised website, our new uniform, our first vehicle – a reconditioned, used-van generously donated by Mr. Chan Fong, and “Nalanda-Macro” – an important document outlining Nalanda’s Transformation Programme and our organizational goals for the next one year.
“The practice of giving is universally recognised as one of the most basic human virtues, a quality that testifies to the depth of one’s humanity and one’s capacity for self-transcendence. In the teaching of the Buddha, too, the practice of giving claims a place of special eminence, one which singles it out as being in a sense the foundation and seed of spiritual development.”
Bhikkhu Bodhi
Dāna, the practice of giving, is often related to the quality of generosity (cāga). The highlight here is not so much the physical act of transferring an object from one’s hands to another’s, but rather the inward transformation that gradually takes place as we experience the joy of giving, naturally loosening the knots of greed and hate, allowing us to feel happier and more at peace within.
On Wesak Day, 5 May 2012, Nalanda is hosting several events to encourage the practice of giving and develop the virtue of generosity.
This is a featured-article on Wesak 2012, published in the New Straits Times, on Friday, 27 April 2012, Streets, pp 4. Happy Wesak!
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