Celebrating Vesak (or Wesak) Day in Penang

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." – Buddha.

Vesak Day falls on the full moon of the lunar month of Vesākha (either in April, May or June). Also known as Buddha Purnima, it is considered as a holy celebration for the Buddhists as the day commemorates Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment (nirvāna) and death (parinirvāna).

The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the Lord Buddha’s birthday was formalised at the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950. However, at that juncture, centuries-old traditions celebrating this special day in the Buddhist world were already present.

Vesak is observed traditionally by Buddhists in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and the South East Asian countries including Malaysia. In recognition of its profound spiritual significance, the United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, officially recognised Vesak as an international day of observance. This was to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism – one of the oldest religions in the world – has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity.

This endorsement reflects the global importance of the Buddha’s message of peace, compassion, and goodwill – values that transcend national and religious boundaries. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted, “The Buddha's teachings of compassion, tolerance and selfless service resonate deeply with the values of the United Nations. In an era of profound global challenges, these timeless principles must guide our shared path forward".

Here in Penang, Vesak Day is marked with vibrant festivities and heartfelt devotion. On this thrice-blessed day, Buddhists visit temples across the island to offer prayers, participate in candlelight vigils on the eve, engage in chanting sessions and listen to Dhamma talks. These acts of reverence form the spiritual heart of the celebration.

"Bathing" the statue of Buddha is a common ritual on Vesak. Water is poured over the shoulders of Buddha as a reminder to believers to purify minds from greed, hatred and ignorance.

Gifts are offered at the main altar of the temple, right before the statues of Buddha as a sign of respect and gratitude to the Lord for his life and teachings. Some will set free pigeons and tortoises (which they would have purchased) as a symbolic gesture of kindness in releasing the soul from bondage.

The spread on pages 41–42 of the 85th Anniversary Commemorative Coffee Table Book of the Mahindarma Buddhist Temple features a collage of photographs documenting the very first Wesak Day procession in Penang.

In April 1949, a memorial signed by 229 Buddhist organisations and individuals from across the Federation was submitted to the High Commissioner, appealing for Wesak Day to be recognised as a public holiday. On 28 April, a press announcement confirmed that for the first time in the nation’s history, Wesak Day – which fell on 12 May that year – would be observed as a public holiday in Penang, Malacca and several other states. That same year, Penang witnessed its first Wesak Day procession, which began at the Mahindarma Buddhist Temple and concluded at the Penang Buddhist Association. The strong support of the late Ven. K. Gunaratana Nayaka Maha Thera, Chief Monk of the Mahindarma Buddhist Temple, was instrumental in establishing what has now become an annual Wesak procession in Penang.

Since then, the annual Wesak Day procession has made its way through the streets of George Town, run entirely by dedicated volunteers and funded through public donations. The grand procession typically begins in the evening from the Malaysian Buddhist Association at Burmah Road. Buddhist devotees from all walks of life – young and old alike – take part, walking alongside elaborately decorated floats adorned with vibrant flowers and dazzling lights. Along the route, participants chant prayers and sing in joyous reverence, creating a moving celebration of faith and unity.

Although the celebrations for Vesak day come to an end after the procession concludes, what resonates more are the teachings of Lord Buddha.

At the heart of his teachings lie the Four Noble Truths, namely:

• The Noble Truth of Dukkha or suffering,
• The Origin or Cause of suffering,
• The End or Cessation of suffering, and
• The Path which leads to the cessation of all sufferings.

The message of the Buddha stands today as unaffected by time and the expansion of knowledge as to when they were first enunciated. His teachings appeal to reason and freedom of thought, recognising the dignity and potentiality of the human mind. It calls for equality, fraternity and understanding, exhorting its followers to avoid evil, to do good and to purify their minds.

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Years without a procession

In 1965, the Penang Wesak Day procession was cancelled for the first time since the festival had been declared a public holiday about 15 years earlier. The suspension continued in 1966 due to the ongoing state of emergency. Decades later, the tradition faced renewed disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, with processions cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Yet even without the grand processions, devotees upheld the spirit of Wesak through limited temple services, charitable acts and the symbolic release of captive animals, in adherence to health and safety protocols.

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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah
© All rights reserved
Updated 11 May 2025