'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)