Dwi Putra Septiyana: The Celebration of Holy Tri Vesak 2556 BE/2012

Vesak is a Buddhist religious holiday celebrated during the Sidhi Full Moon every year. Buddhists celebrate Vesak to commemorate three important events: the birth of Prince Siddharta at the Lumbini Garden, attainment of enlightenment by Prince Sidharta who later became Buddha at Buddha-Gaya, and the death of Buddha Gautama at Kusinara.

The monks at the Liong Hok Bio temple before the Pindapata procession

I visited the Liong Hok Bio temple in the south of Magelang Town Square to see the Pindapata procession. Pindapata is a ritual of giving alms to monks by the community for virtue. The activity was held in a Chinatown on Pemuda street in Magelang.

Alms procession ahead of Vesak

Buddhist monks at the Pindapata ritual in the Chinatown area, Pemuda street, Magelang, Central Java, Thursday May 3^rd 2012

The monks pass the shopping area during the Pindapata procession before Vesak

Alms demand ritual performed in front of the shops doorway, Pemuda street, Magelang

A number of monks perform the Pindapata ritual while walking down the Chinatown neighborhood to collect donations from people around

A monk walks in the Chinatown neighborhood carrying a silver vessel to hold the alms from the people

People give alms to the monk who is conducting the Pindapata ritual as part of the Holy Tri Vesak festival year 2556/2012

The alms were not only red envelopes containing money (Angpao), but also instant noodles

The alms are put into the silver vessel to be collected later

Monks at the Pradaksina procession

Pradaksina is a procession of circling the holy shrine (Borobudur temple). This is done as a symbol of respect for the place. The monks and other Buddhists devotees perform the ritual by start moving from the east where the building is on the right side. Then, they walk towards the south clockwise. Pradaksina at the Great Temple of Borobudur is done while carrying a candle.