Grand Wesak Day floats procession in Kuala Lumpur

A colourful procession of floats in conjunction with the Wesak Day celebrations by the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur was held on Tuesday 17th May 2011.

The procession with 27 floats took about three hours to travel on a 12km journey that began from the temple at Jalan Berhala and headed towards several major streets in the city including Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Pudu before it headed back to the temple.

Wesak Day celebrates Buddha's birthday, his reaching of enlightenment and attaining nirvana. It is held annually on the 15th day of the fourth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

“Everything changes, nothing remains without change” - Gautama Buddha

The Malaysia Buddhist Association float at Jalan Bukit Bintang in
front of Lot 10 shopping complex.



This large Reclining Buddha image floated along Jalan Tun
Sambanthan at KL's Little India in Brickfields.



The Buddha taking a nap, hence its name, the Reclining Buddha.
In Buddhism, the Reclining Buddha represents ultimate enlightenment.



A beautiful lantern-bedecked float making its way along
Jalan Bukit Bintang.



A float resembling a ship.



A procession of devotees carrying Happy Wesak Day banner.



The float from the Myanmar Temple, SS2 PJ.



Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon
(second from left) during the official ceremony for the procession 
at the Buddhist Maha Vihara on Wesak Day 2011. On the
right is Tilak Leslie Jayawardena, president of Buddhist
Maha Vihara, Brickfields.

  

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon
(centre in batik shirt) launched the procession in front of Wisma
Dharma Cakra at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple complex.



Chief High Priest of Malaysia Venerable Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana
Nayaka Maha Thera (second from left), Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon
(third from left), Malaysian Buddhist Association vice-president
Venerable Ming Ji (fourth from left) and other monks show the
1Malaysia sign. Behind them is the child Buddha with his right
hand pointing at heaven.



Leading the procession: (From left) Venerable Ming Ji, Tan Sri
Koh Tsu Koon and Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana.



The procession of devotees at Jalan Tun Sambanthan in KL's
Little India.



The street at Jalan Bukit Bintang was packed with tourists.



The Buddhist Maha Vihara float led the procession of floats.



A dragon float showing off a variety of colours and interesting
designs.



A lion dance performance adds lots of merriment at the intersection
of Jalan Bukit Bintang/Jalan Sultan Ismail, in front of McDonald's.

 

The Verapitiya Dance Group from Kiribadgoda, Sri Lanka
performed a cultural dance in front of McDonald's at Jalan
Bukit Bintang, KL.



The Chez Yuen Lin Buddhist Association from Kepong Baru, KL
taking part in the procession.



A beautifully decorated float bears status of Hindu gods,
including Lord Ganesh, the elephant God.



A float marks gift of light.



Brightly-lit float under the night sky.



The float carrying the golden statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess
of Mercy.



A float with child Buddha standing straight up
with his right hand pointing at heaven and with
his left at the earth. According to Buddhist
legend, when Buddha was born, he pointed
his right hand up and left hand down to
announce that he will unite heaven and earth.

 

Devotees participate in the ceremonial bathing of the baby Buddha.
It was believed that the child Buddha was showered in the waters
of the nine dragons shortly after being born.

 

These four characters from classical Chinese novel "Journey to
the West", get attention. (From left)  Zhu Bajie (pigsy), monk
Xuanzang, Sha Wujing (sandy) and Sun Wukong (stone monkey)



A float of Thousand-hand Guan Yin.