Vesak (Ost Park)
June 14, 2008
Many different Buddhist groups from the Frankfurt area collaborated to make this year’s Vesak (Ost Park) celebration a success. During the last Vesak (Ost Park) the celebrations, talks, and performances were damped with cold rain showers. This year the sunshine prevailed in warding off the rain clouds.
The Vesak holiday is a reminder of the birth, illumination and the Buddha’s entrance into Nirvana (Paranibbana) more than 2550 years ago in north India. Traditionally in the Buddhist countries of Asia the Vesak fest is held during the first full moon of May and is one of the largest and most important events of the year. The full moon symbolizes Buddha’s illumination.
Each year our Ost Park celebration grows in size of participants and attendees. This year an estimated 3,000 people from the surrounding Frankfurt am Main area gathered to celebrate the Buddhas Birthday.
The stage program began with an introduction to Vesak event activities by the moderator Michael Paul followed by an opening speech by the Venerable Thich Thien Son, Abbott of Pagoda Phat Hue. Following this opening speech was a ceremony held in both the Vietnamese (Sanskrit) tradition and the Sri Lankan (Pali) tradition with chanting that led directly in to the Buddha washing ceremony. With the ambiance of music, chanting, sunshine and washing ritual symbolizing the cleansing of one’s own mind it was quite a touching ceremony.
The rest of the day followed with different Dharma talks by the Theravada tradition and our Venerable Abbott Thich Thien son. Later in the day were interesting talks given by Alfred Weil, and discussions lead by Prof. Dr. Klaus. There were Kung Fu demonstrations, singing and cultural performances, meditations in the meditation tent and arts, craft and story telling all day for the kids in the Children’s tent.
The day ended with a candle light ceremony. Each attendee was given a candle and proceed to circle the grounds in a collective chanting of ‘Om Mani Pad Me Om’. Each person circled the ground three times and event was brought to a close. In the closing ceremony each participant had the oppertunity to be blessed with the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. Like every year it was quite an auspicious occasion.
It seem each facet of this year’s Vesak celebration went smoothly and we hope the best for next year’s celebration of Budda’s Birthday.