Religious ritual: Ho (left) bathing the Buddha at the temple in Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: There will be no price increase in the sale of lotus candles, incense sticks or flowers for devotees offering prayers at the Wat Siribunya Maggarama Buddhist temple here.
The temple’s committee chairman Iyeng Endin Niang said the prices of the items would remain between RM2 and RM10.
“We want devotees to come and pray on Wesak Day. Any increase in cost will be absorbed by us.
“For years, we have not increased the prices of these items,” he said when met at the temple located in Jalan Tambun here yesterday.
Iyeng said he expected some 5,000 devotees to visit the 120-year-old temple tomorrow.
He said offering of candles, flowers and incense sticks to Lord Buddha, and sprinkling of holy water by the Bhikkus (monk) would start from today.
On Wesak Day, he said the event would start from 7am up to 8pm.
“Prayer sessions and chanting by the monks, offering of food and procession around the main shrine hall will also take place.
“The bathing of Buddha ritual will take place in front of the main shrine hall where three statues would be placed, representing the birth, enlightenment and nirvana stages,” he said.
Kwan Yin Tong (Goddess of Mercy) temple chairman Ho You Meng said some 2,000 devotees were expected to visit the cave temple.
He said some devotees started coming to the temple earlier to offer prayers.
In Kuantan, at the Wan Fo Tien temple in Jalan Bukit Ubi, over 5,000 devotees are expected to congregate to pray and seek blessings.
The main attraction there is a statue of a sitting Buddha measuring 5.5m made of white Han jade imported from Sichuan province and sculptured in Beijing, China.
Pahang Buddhist Association secretary Dr Wong Sien Biang said among the activities on Wesak Day were a short discourse on Buddhism, bathing of the little Buddha statues, chanting and offerings to Lord Buddha.
The ceremony will begin from 8am to 10pm tomorrow.
“The temple, also known as Ten Thousand Buddhas’ Hall, is one of the most visited tourist spots in Kuantan as part of the state government’s religious tourism initiative.
“The walls of the main hall are decorated with 15,743 pieces of tiles with the image of Buddha carved on each piece,” Wong said.
