4,000 Buddhists Thronged Dhammacakka Temple
Reported by Budhi Firmansyah Surapati | Translated by Anisah Mardhatilla
Thousands of Buddhists in North Jakarta celebrate the Holy Tri Vesak Day 2558 at the Dhammacakka Temple, Jalan Agung Permai, Blok C No. 15, Sunter Agung Urban Village, Tanjung Priok Sub-District. The celebration is divided into three procession series that went solemnly.
May we all be wise with this celebration. So, peace and happiness could be realized, as well as wisdom in order to attain the perfect enlightenment in the world
From 9 AM until 11 AM, around 4,000 Buddhists thronged the temple. They followed a series of processions which started by reading paritha (repeat the teachings of Buddha), performing puja (reciting vesak gata poetry), and closed by hearing the speech and performing meditation.
One of Dhammacakka Temple caretakers, Richard Hioe (48), said that Vesak celebration is the symbol of tri sacred or holy three event warnings, namely to commemorate the birth of Prince Siddhartha, to achieve the perfect enlightenment, and to reach parinibana or death.
Vesak, Buddhists Pray for City’s Development“May we all be wise with this celebration. So, peace and happiness could be realized, as well as wisdom in order to attain the perfect enlightenment in the world,” he uttered.
After the three procession series, the celebration continued by the blessed water sprinkling. It is intended so everyone gets the blessing of happiness and peace of Vesak.
“The most important is the last worship procession where Buddhists read parittha etawata. This kindness meaningful prayer procession done by Buddhists today is conducted so all beings and the ancestors could enjoy the merit and may all beings be happy,” explained Hioe.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Priok Sector Police Sabhara Unit Chief AKP Suparji infromed that to secure Vesak celebration in Dhammacakka Temple, as many as 15 Tanjung Priok Sector Police personnel and 3 North Jakarta Resort Police personnel are deployed.
“For this Vesak celebration, we provide services to Buddhists who perform worship this morning in order to feel safe and comfortable. Thank God the activities went smoothly,” he stated.
