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| Wesak Day 2013 grand float by Malaysian Buddhist Association 马佛总会 at Penang |
Just realized we have not bring the children for bathing Buddha ritual during Wesak Day. This time we went to the celebration at Malaysian Buddhist Association, Burma Road, Penang. They must have organized this event many times until they are very organized now. Queue for bathing buddha and queue for joss-stick offering prayers. There are volunteers helping out so everything is done swiftly and smoothly. Everyone is supposed to conduct the bathing buddha ritual only once, one scoop of flower water and pour a little three times on the buddha statue.
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| Buddha statue at the prayer altar |
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| Queue for our turn for bathing Buddha ritual |
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| I carried 弟弟 while he took a turn at bathing Buddha ritual |
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| 姐姐 is able to complete the bathing Buddha ritual herself |
After bathing the Buddha ritual, we made a small donation to get some packets of "flower water" or 花水. This is to be used for cleansing/shower at home. We also lighted a candle for the family for blessing. In addition, there is a queue for offering of joss-stick at the altar. It's not the standard long type but just a short one as symbolic gesture I guess.
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| Outside the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Penang with their donation flags |
After that, we went for lunch at vegetarian restaurant on the opposite row of shophouse. Biggest mistake as it's very expensive. 爸爸 didn't want to get lunch at the Buddhist Association even though they have vegetarian food fair as he felt it's tedious with coupon system. I told him next time we are better off having lunch there :P
At home, we mix the "flower water" with some warm water. Hehe make the children shower and only when they are clean then 爸爸 pour the flower water over them. They think this is fun :)
Activity for Wesak at night, watching the Wesak Day procession 花车游行. This is the first time we bring the children to see it. We went for dinner at Old Green House kopitiam. Since the procession started 6:30pm, we are kind of late as 姐姐 has English class replacement. It's fun having dinner there as we can see part of the procession passing by. Er, the children can't stand more vegetarian, but too bad the popular Hokkien mee stall has not started at that time :P Since it's still early the procession vehicles are not lighted up yet.
By the time we joined the procession, it's time for the grand float from Malaysian Buddhist Association to go off from the starting point. We got blended into the crowd, so we just followed the devotees 护送. Wow, the procession really go very fast and we were behind at the Jalan Pangkor/Gurney junction. We turned back and in the end we watched the parade at the junction near Lebuhraya Peel army camp. We missed some of the 花车, one of which had pink lighted trees and one which had white horse. 姐姐 say the one with white horse is the nicest, even though she just caught a glimpse from afar. The procession really go by fast, it makes taking photos difficult as it's moving! We only watched until the grand float passed by and went back about 8:30pm.
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| Singing children on 花车 |
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| This one had pagoda on trishaw in front followed by buddha statue under snake (2013 is snake year) |
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| Monk on the 花车 flicker us with 花水 for 平安. The children was happy they got "splashed" :) |
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| 弟弟's favourite 花车 as it has white elephant with gleaming ruby eyes. |
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| Chingay team joined the procession too |
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| Front part of the last float with snake theme decoration, it looks like a car made of flowers |
One of the reason to joing the Wesak Day celebration this year, as 姐姐's holiday homework for KSSR Year 3 Mandarin is to write a diary-like essay about Wesak Day. Since she didn't remembe the previous Wesak Day celebrations, we bring her and 弟弟 to experience it themselves. Like a field trip organized by parents :) I think the teacher wants the children to experience the event and then write about it. Otherwise kids will keep saying "I don't know how to write" as they still have not learnt how to write from imagination or by referring to news reports.
During the weekend, we were invited to birthday party of 姐姐's friend at a private clubhouse. We enjoyed great food and the children had a lot of fun. Birthday girl's daddy came up with lots of quiz questions to keep the children entertained.while we adults get to relax and chat :)
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| The birthday girl :) 姐姐 and 弟弟 were very happy as they get to enjoy cake, pudding and ice-cream |
An earlier weekend, the children had pizza.
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| Double Sensation pizza at Pizza Hut |
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