The Last of Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007

Following up with my first visit, I was at the BCAF07 everyday but at different time and boy I was glad cos each day I tend to experience something different.

8 June 2007

Sand Mandala of the Medicine Buddha is completed but it was cordoned off.



Part of HE Gelek Rinpoche and monks chanting.



Attended a performance by i.gemz. Managed to caught a couple of songs before my boiboi start fidgeting. Oh my, they sang so well!



I've also got to witness the colourful send off of the Buddha's relics for safe keeping before they return the next morning. See the two part video.






9 June 2007

Woohoo today can see the mandala up close and the whole Buddha's Feet area which was partly filled on Thursday is full of lotus flowers.




10 June 2007

On the last day of the exhibition is a flurry of activities. Lots of packing and cleaning after 8pm. Somehow when we got there to collect the sand from the mandala, we ended up witnessing the "destroying" of the mandala. They were supposed to have done it earlier but apparently, some VIPs were late for some ceremony, DUH! They have to wait till they completed their rounds before the puja ceremony can be started.

As the mandala represents the universe, an extensive puja was done prior to destroying it marking the impermanence of everything. The puja was led by HE Gelek Rinpoche where he used the vajra to draw lines leading into the centre of the mandala cutting it up 8 parts. (Part 1 & 2) Like anything sacred, a khata (silk scarf) was used to sweep the sand mandala where a brass spoon was later used to scoop & pack the sand into small plastic bags for distribution (Part 3). Devotees were encouraged to donate a small sum of RM20 to defray the cost of holding the exhibition in return for a bag of the sand.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Also the final send off of the Buddha's relics to Sri Lanka.