Thousands of Buddhists and monks in Central Java celebrated Vesak day at the Borobudur temple.
The rituals of Vesak day in which holy water and fire served as the main means of devotional worship and prayers started at around 09.00 am Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).
In Central Java, the rituals were preceded by a 3-km-long procession on foot from Mendut temple to Borobudur temple.
At 10:39 am the procession participants arrived at the court of Borobudur temple which was built in the 8th century during the Syailendra dynasty.
The holy water was then put in a jar and brought by a number of people, while fire on a torch was taken by using a vehicle decorated with among others a Buddha statue and flower arrangements.
When the devices of the ceremony arrived at the court, a number of people carried the sacred fire and water to the altar.
In Palembang, South sumatra, the Vesak day celebration proceeded simply without a special ceremony.
The Buddhists in this city only performed prayers led by Romo Hasan Effendi and Juniarti Salim.
In Bengkulu, Sumatra, Bhuddists held the worship "Kheng" before conducting a meditation procession to commemorate Vesak at 06.00 pm.
Vesak Day elebrations were also held in Bandarlampung, Lampung province, Batam (Riau Islands), Jambi province and in Ambon (Maluku province). (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
