Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin attended the Wesak Day celebration in the 1Malaysia spirit at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday 17th May 2011.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin’s arrival at 9.30 am was greeted by Chief Monk of Buddhist Maha Vihara and Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera and cultural performances that represented the multi-cultural ethnicity in the country. There were also performances by the Verapitiya Dance Group from Kiribadgoda, Sri Lanka and the Nepali musical troupe.
Joining in the celebrations were several cabinet ministers including Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Dato’ G. Palanivel, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.
Others included Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, co-founder and president of the Pure Life Society Datin Paduka Mother Mangalam Iyaswamy Iyer, as well as representatives from other religious faiths and foreign dignitaries.
Muhyiddin was led to the Asoka Hall of Wisma Dharma Cakra located within the temple complex where he watched cultural performances, had vegetarian meal and later symbolically planted a tree in a flower pot.
Tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees had gathered at the temple offering prayers and alms. Monks in saffron chanted holy hymns and volunteers distributed small bottles of holy water and yellow strings to devotees.
Wesak Day is celebrated to pay homage to Lord Buddha and commemorate his birthday, attainment of enlightenment and passing away.
Various programmes were held at the temple, including blood donation, distribution of free vegetarian food and drinks, exhibition, mass prayers and floats procession in the city during the evening.
“Everything changes, nothing remains without change”
- Gautama Buddha
Joining in the celebrations were several cabinet ministers including Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Dato’ G. Palanivel, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.
Others included Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, co-founder and president of the Pure Life Society Datin Paduka Mother Mangalam Iyaswamy Iyer, as well as representatives from other religious faiths and foreign dignitaries.
Muhyiddin was led to the Asoka Hall of Wisma Dharma Cakra located within the temple complex where he watched cultural performances, had vegetarian meal and later symbolically planted a tree in a flower pot.
Tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees had gathered at the temple offering prayers and alms. Monks in saffron chanted holy hymns and volunteers distributed small bottles of holy water and yellow strings to devotees.
Wesak Day is celebrated to pay homage to Lord Buddha and commemorate his birthday, attainment of enlightenment and passing away.
Various programmes were held at the temple, including blood donation, distribution of free vegetarian food and drinks, exhibition, mass prayers and floats procession in the city during the evening.
“Everything changes, nothing remains without change”
- Gautama Buddha
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arriving at Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields on Wesak Day 17th May 2011. Receiving him was the Chief Monk of Buddhist Maha Vihara and Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera. |
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| Devotees and visitors waiting to shake hands with deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (right) waving to the devotees and visitors. |
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Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Wesak Day, |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was given a warm welcome. |
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The visit by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin generated excitement and enthusiasm among the devotees and visitors. |
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| The Verapitiya Dance Group from a traditional welcome dance for Deputy Prime MInister. |
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| A multi-racial lion dance troupe with children performing. |
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| A Nepali musical troupe performed to the accompaniment of Nepali folk music. |
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| From left: Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Dato’ G. Palanivel and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. |
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| Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera (left) sharing a light-hearted conversation with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha. |
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| Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera (left) stressing a point while Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye listens attentively. |
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| Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong (left) enjoys a light-hearted chat with Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera. |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin (third from right) enjoying the cultural performances at Asoka Hall of Wisma Dharma Cakra. |
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| There was a sense of harmony and unity among all those present. |
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| Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera delivers the welcome address. |
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| Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho wishes all Buddhists a Happy Wesak Day. |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said 19% of the population are Buddhists who had contributed significantly to the growth of the country. |
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| Children from Ti-Ratana Welfare Society put up several dance performances for the VIP guests. |
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| A choir sings with their splendid musical theatre voice. |
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| The Verapitiya Dance Group from Kiribadgoda, Sri Lanka captivates the audience with their high energy dance moves. |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was presented with a souvenir of his visit. |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin planting a tree to commemorate his first visit to the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. |
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| Devotees kneeling with their knees before the Lord Buddha inside the Main Shrine Hall of Buddhist Maha Vihara. |
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| A devotee kneels down in front of the statue of Lord Buddha and touches his head to the ground to show his deep respect to the Lord Buddha. |
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| A monk sprinkled holy water to devotees during a prayer session. |
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| A statue of the Lord Buddha garlanded in flowers on Wesak Day. |
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| Buddhist monks blessed devotees who queue up to get holy water sprinkled on them. |
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| Volunteers distribute yellow strings to devotees to be tied to the wrists. The yellow string has been chanted to protect the wearer and give good luck. |
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| Devotees offering flowers to the Lord Buddha. |
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| Devotees lighting lotus-shaped candles and offering incense to the Lord Buddha. |
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| A devotee holding a candle in her hand and pray silently to the Lord Buddha. |
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| A devotee offering prayer to the Lord Buddha. |
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| Devotees walk around a circle of Buddha images to pay their respect to the Lord Buddha |
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| Devotees lighted oil lamps as they pray to the Lord Buddha. |
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| Devotees praying before the Lord Buddha statue. |
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| Devotees offering lighted joss sticks to the Lord Buddha. |
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| The six metre high hexagon-shaped lantern with over 40 smaller lanterns and fitted with colourful rotating lights. |
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| A blood donation campaign was held inside the Asoka Hall after the Deputy Prime Minister left. |
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| Beverage company F&N sponsored free flow of Fruit Tree juices and Jasmine green tea. |
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| Volunteers cooked and packed vegetarian food in polystyrene boxes. |
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| Volunteers distribute packed food for devotees. |
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