MELAKA, April 25 — More than 10,000 Buddhists and visitors will congregate at the Seck Kia Eenh Temple in Kampung Chetti, Jalan Gajah Berang here from tomorrow (April 26) to May 4 to celebrate Wesak Day 2023.

Melaka Buddhist Association Wesak Day Celebration Committee chairman Cedric Tan said this Wesak Day celebration will be the first time it is being held again after a three-year lapse of not being organised due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"More interesting this time is that there will be 15 decorated floats in a six-kilometre procession,” he said at a press conference on the Wesak Day celebrations held at Wisma Seck Kia Eenh here today.

He said a total of 2,400 participants from 15 Buddhist associations in Melaka will be involved, and the procession will pass through 11 areas including Jalan Gajah Berang, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tun Ali, Jalan Tun Mutahir, Lorong Hang Jebat and Jalan Tengkera.

Among the other activities to be held in conjunction with the celebration include a prayer ceremony, candlelight performance at the temple grounds, distribution of flowers, and a lion dance performance by the Gao Feng Lion and Dragon Dance Cultural Association.

Cedric said the Pindacara (practice of collecting alms-food) ceremony will be held at every street corner in addition to the distribution of 600 food packages to the poor regardless of race around Melaka city to mark the closing ceremony of this year’s Wesak celebration.

Additionally, the Melaka Chetti community will also attend the Wesak celebration and will give a dance performance at Seck Kia Eenh Temple.

"After the Wesak celebration, we will hold a blood donation campaign and dental care campaign on May 14 and 21. People are invited to come to check their health on those days,” he added. — Bernama