DEVOTEES can still contribute all types of flowers to decorate the floats for the Wesak Day procession this Sunday.

Penang Wesak Celebrations Committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun said those interested could drop the flowers at the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) in Burmah Road from now until noon tomorrow.

“We welcome all types of fresh flowers to be used as decoration for the floats.

“The float designer will then decide how to style the floats with the flowers received from public.

Dr Loh said they would still accept flowers after the deadline but those flowers would not be used to decorate the floats.

Earlier, some 40 committee members and devotees were at the MBA to move the Buddha statue from the main shrine to the main float.

A total of 28 floats adorned with flowers are expected to take to the streets during the procession.

The procession will start from MBA and pass through Pangkor Road, Kelawei Road, Burmah Lane, Peel Avenue, Macalister Road, Anson Road and Madras Lane before returning to the starting point.

Themed ‘Collective Wisdom Brings Everflowing Blessings’, various activities that will be or have been carried out to mark the celebration include Dana to Sangha, Dharma talks, Wesak night vegetarian dinner, visitation to the less fortunate, as well as a blood donation campaign.

The blood donation campaign will be held on May 26 from 9am to 1pm at the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, while the Dana to Sangha will be held at the MBA at 11am on June 1.

Wesak Day is held to commemorate the Thrice Blessed Day of Gautama Buddha’s birth, his supreme enlightenment and his attainment of mahaparinirvana.

For details, call 04-2262690 or e-mail mba.hq@mbahq.my.

Source: The Star