Buddha birthday celebration to be held at Taman Hui Sing temple in Kuching on Nov 5-9

KUCHING (Nov 1): A four-faced Buddha birthday celebration will be held at Pertubuhan Penganut Agama Buddha Buddhamongkolsatan, Taman Hui Sing here on Nov 5 to 9, from 9am to 10pm.

The event will feature two distinguished Buddhist masters (sifu), one from Thailand and another from Kuching, who will lead the spiritual activities throughout the five-day celebration.

A grand opening ceremony will be held on Nov 5 at 9am, followed by a closing ceremony at 7pm.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap are expected to grace the event.

According to the event spokesperson, the activities that will be held hold deep spiritual significance for Buddhists, symbolising a journey of renewal and blessings, featuring traditional Thai Buddhist prayers and practices common in Thailand, and the burning of dragon incense, led by a Thai sifu.

Additionally, there are sacred rituals, which are the ‘Phra Rahu’ Prayer and the Sacred Flower Bath.

‘Phra Rahu’ Prayer is a ritual that invites devotees to pay homage and seek blessings from the Phra Rahu for a smooth and prosperous year ahead.

It symbolises the warding off of bad luck, attracting fortune and embracing change.

Through prayers and offerings, devotees seek guidance and protection from Phra Rahu, a tradition passed down through generations.

The sacred Flower Bath symbolises purification and blessing, where devotees will receive a holy water bath using flower water to cleanse away negativity and past misdeeds, offering a fresh start both spiritually and emotionally.

This tradition is believed to help drive out evil and bring good fortune to devotees.