Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival

Fo Guang Shan Temple (North Island) celebrated Buddha’s Day Multicultural Blessing Ceremony on 11 April 2010 at 10am across the field of merit in front of the Main Shrine, which was presided over by Venerable Abbess Manshin. The invited VIPs included Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Hon Pansy Wong; Leader of Opposition, Hon Phil Goff; National Party MP Dr Cam Calder; MP Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi; MP Melissa Lee; Hon Chris Carter; Hon Luamauvao Winnie Laban; MP Mr Raymond Huo; Consular General of the People’s Republic of China, Auckland, Madam Liao Juhua; CEO of Manukau City Council Leigh Auton ；Deputy Mayor of Manukau Gary Group ；Manukau City Mayor　Mr Len Brown; Hinduism Mr Sri Mysore, representative of the Hindu community; Mr Maulana Shafiq ur Rehman, representative of the Muslim community; Reverend Ann Batten, representative of the Anglican Church; BLIA President, Dolly Tsai; BLIA Advisors and consultants, together with hundred over guests attended the ceremony．
Prior to the blessing ceremony 260 devotees, dressed in different cultural costumes, took part in the offering ceremony, making offerings of flowers, incense and scriptures to the Buddha. This was followed by the blessing ceremony when Venerable Abbess Manshin led the VIPs to offer flowers and bathe of the Buddha. During her speech, BLIA President Dolly Tsai, encouraged everybody to practice the three good deeds; cultivate good affinity and promote the four harmonies by incorporating Humanistic Buddhism in their practice. The Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Hon Pansy Wong, praised Fo Guang Shan for its efforts over the years in bringing racial and religious harmony through the Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival, which is also a goal the government is working towards. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Temple for providing such a rich multicultural platform for the people of New Zealand. Leader of Opposition Hon Phil Goff and Manukau City Mayor Mr Len Brown expressed their gratitude to be invited to such an auspicious occasion.
During her speech Venerable Abbess Manshin explained the significance of the bathing of the Buddha encouraging everyone to learn to be like the water: clean, pure, soft and tolerant to experience the equanimity of all human races and the unlimited freedom of life. She said ‘We are very fortunate to live in New Zealand, one of the cleanest countries in the world and we must learn to take care of the earth where all life started and the place where we live.’
Consular General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland, Madam Liao Juhua, presented an embroidered picture to Fo Guang Shan Temple (North Island).
The weather was fine and breezy and the temple was a hustle and bustle with crowds of people, more than 5000 of whom took part in the Bathing of the Buddha, from 12 noon until 4pm in the afternoon. Eighteen food stalls were set up in front of the Front shrine selling delicious food from China, Vietnam and Malaysia, to name a few. Volunteers on the 10 Education and Community stalls were busy demonstrating origami, Chinese knotting, calligraphy and Chinese rubbing. The Children’s Wonderland, which featured a colouring competition, bouncy castle, face/body painting and treasure hunt, attracted many happy children and their families who joined in the activities. The multicultural performances including Japanese drums, Chinese Opera, Modern dance and aerobic displays which entertained thousands of people.
At 2pm, 50 cute babies, young children and their families took part in the Baby Blessing Ceremony presided over by Venerable Abbess Manshin. She led the devotees in reciting the Heart Sutra and a prayer written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The babies and young children were blessed with holy water and presented with rosary beads.
To express heartfelt gratitude Venerable Abbess Manshin presented a souvenir to over 300 volunteers who had participated in this Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival, expressing her hope that everyone will live life to the full through their participation in the BLIA’s activities. The highly successful annual event, to which it was estimated that over ten thousand visitors attended, ended with the chiming of the bell and drum.