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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Officially Buddha's birthday is celebrated on may 19th (full moon), but in Antwerp BLIA (Buddha's Light International Association) organised it a bit earlier.
This day is an official holiday in many countries where Buddhism is practised. The name may diverse: 佛誕 (fó dàn), Visakha Bucha, Wesak, Vesak... but it all means the same.
After the ceremonies, speeches and performances, I noticed several people approaching this tiny statue and perform a ritual which was a mystery to me.
According to www.buddhabirthdayfestival.com.au (and others) it is explained as follows :
This ritual is to improve harmony & inner balance:
1. Please kneel on cushion
2. Fill ladle & pour water over small Buddha statue 3 times
3. While pouring water, say:
◆1st wash: "May I eliminate all evil thoughts"
◆2nd wash: "May I cultivate good deeds"
◆3rd wash: "May I help save all living beings"
Origin...
One of the main activities of the festival is the "bathing Buddha" ritual. Legend records that when Prince Siddhartha was born, there were extraordinary and auspicious signs heralding his birth.
They describe the sky as being clear with brilliant sunshine, flowers blooming and birds singing - dragons appeared in the sky spurting two streams of purified water (one cool and one warm), that gently cascaded down to bathe him.
At his birth, seven lotus flowers sprung up beneath his feet as he walked - pointing one hand to the sky and ground he said "in the heaven above and earth below, I vow to liberate all who suffer in these three realms".
Since that time Buddhists all over the world celebrate his birthday by using fragrant water to bathe the image of Buddha.
So it isn't "poke-in-the-nose-day" after all ;-)
Slightly rotated the picture to mask a tilt.
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