'Waisak' observed in solemn ceremony

'Waisak' observed in solemn ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Buddhists from around the country
gathered at dawn yesterday at the Central Javanese temple of
Borobudur to join a solemn ceremony in observance of Waisak,
Buddha's day of enlightenment.

Under the moonlight, the congregation meditated to commemorate
three important events in the Buddha's life: his birth, his
enlightenment and his death.

Some 20,000 colorful plastic bottles, containing sacred water
taken from the Umbul Jumprit spring in Temanggung, were lined up
in the temple's yard. The congregation jostled to grab the
bottles after several Buddhist monks blessed the water.

"This is not ordinary water, this is blessed water. If we put
our trust in it, it can cure any ailment," according to
Kromohadi, one of the faithful who trekked down Mount Merbabu to
sample the holy water.

A number of elderly women expressed a similar belief, saying
the water could help bring prosperity and happiness to their
families.

A group of young Buddhists from Jakarta, however, said they
less sure of the water's powers. "The water is sacred, yes, but
I'm not sure it can cure illness," one of them told the Antara
news agency.

Rather, said Nita, "the Waisak water is a symbol of our duty
to do good."

The Tri Suci Waisak is celebrated every year at several
temples in the Central Java province; the nucleus of festivities,
however, is usually at Borobudur.

This year Buddhists held exhibitions and a Dhammapada
scripture recital contest for the 2539th Waisak. At least 30
bhikku, or Buddhist monks, from Indonesia and other countries
joined the ritual, which started on Sunday.

Yesterday afternoon, participants in the Waisak ceremony
marched in a procession from Mendut Temple to Borobudur, passing
Pawon Temple en route. The route of the procession is four
kilometers long.

Six carriages drawn by horses and two elephants, borrowed from
the Borobudur recreation park, led the procession. The ceremony
was concluded with several other rituals, including the lighting
of five different colored candles.

On the predominantly Hindu island of Bali, Waisak was
celebrated at two places of worship, the Vihara Dharma Bratha,
Denpasar, and Vihara Dharmayana in Kuta Beach.

Thousands of people began meditating at one o'clock Monday
morning to greet the coming of the Waisak moment, which occurred
on 4.49 a.m. local time.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said in a
broadcast message Sunday that Buddha's enlightenment day should
remind Buddhists to help promote national unity.

"We see cruelty happening everywhere. We see murders,
violence, and distortion of facts, but if we really try to
implement the Dharma teachings of Buddha, we'll remember to stay
on guard," he said. (swe)