KUALA LUMPUR: The Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple's usually serene and quiet atmosphere at Brickfields was broken by the hustle and bustle of monks and devotees preparing for Wesak Day.

Celebrated today in commemoration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, weeks of planning have gone into the event so that everything will go perfectly.

Event organiser and devotee Rupavathy De Silva, 68, beamed as she gestured towards the beautiful procession float, which will be making its rounds on the streets with its 3,000 bulbs shining brightly.

The float's designer, Sri Lankan Leelasena Garanduma Kamburugamuwa, 68, was giving a final coat of paint to the elaborate design yesterday.

“Everyone has chipped in and contributed what he or she can. Those who can cook will cook for around 10,000 people while those who can do craftwork and design helped with the float,” Rupavathy said.

She said there would be dharma talks, meditation sessions and free food and drinks for the public today.

Extra shine: Volunteer Kamburugamuwa putting the finishing touches to a float at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple. — CHAN TAK KONG / The Star

The Wesak Day procession will be a grand event, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak scheduled to make a stop at the temple in the morning.

Tents have been set up in and outside the temple compound, ready to offer devotees food and drinks, as well as religious merchandise and materials.

Several devotees, all clad in pure white to symbolise purity, also took the chance for personal reflection and meditation on the eve of Wesak.

Emily Pereira, 87, said she has been coming to the temple for over 50 years and regularly observed the eight Buddhist precepts.

“I made a vow to observe the eight precepts when my children fell sick,” she said after a short meditation session at the pagoda.

She said the eve was a great time to wind down and purify her thoughts in preparation for the celebration.

Long tents lined the main road outside the temple grounds as traders set up shop in anticipation of the huge crowd.

Ti-Ratana Welfare Society volunteer Wong Tee Liang, whose booth was filled with small pots of colourful chrysanthemum flowers and candles, said Wesak Day was very special for Buddhists.

“The flowers have been sponsored by florists and we will sell them at RM5 per pot for devotees to place on the altar. The money will be donated to the society,” he said.

Related Stories:
Leaders send their greetings

• Alliance full year profit up 7% to RM538mil
• Bumi Armada's earnings up 22% to RM109.67mil, order book RM12.2b
• Dayang bags RM2bil contract from Shell
• CIMB earnings up 37.1% to RM1.386b in Q1, 2013
• MMHE Q1 earnings down 35% to RM50.59m
• KLCI closes a shade below record high
• AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
• EPF invests additional US$1.3b overseas
• MIDA: Investments up 44% on-year to RM49.3b in Q1
• Prague metro plans to launch love train for singles
• iGate sacks chief executive Murthy after sexual harassment probe
• Eversendai Q1 earnings slip 13.1% to RM23.68m on timing differences
• US asks judge to deny S&P's motion to dismiss fraud lawsuit
• Perdana Petroleum bidding for over RM1b contracts
• IOI Corp Q3 earnings up just 2.8% to RM567.8m (Update)

• 6.0 quake off Russia's far-east Kamchatka coastline: USGS
• Death toll rises to 21 in Indonesian mine collapse
• Dozens dead as tornado hits Oklahoma City (Updated)
• No new H7N9 cases in China for a week: government
• Villagers discover ancient ball game statue in Mexico
• British PM survives gay marriage vote
• Kerry to help ink $2.1 bn defense accord with Oman
• Yahoo unveils makeover of flickr site

• China crush arch rivals Indonesia
• Former Asian phenom takes slow route to success
• Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
• Yi Ting on a mission
• Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
• Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
• Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
• Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
• KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
• Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
• Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
• Andre nails it with last jump
• Grace hammers home a point with two golds
• Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
• Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future

• Please wait.

• Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
• Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
• Kerry visits Oman for arms deal, talks on Syria, Mideast
• Malindo set to operate from Subang Skypark
• MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
• Coconut yogurt anyone?
• Cops urge motorists to avoid roads near Dataran PJ Thursday evening
• AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
• The best ways to national unity
• Dayang bags RM2bil contract from Shell