5 Must-Visit Buddhist Temples for Vesak Day in Singapore
Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Jayanti and Buddha Purnima in other South and Southeast Asian countries, is one of the major observed festivals. It holds great significance for it marks the birth, enlightenment, and death anniversary of Lord Buddha.
Yes, all three milestones are on one day!
Whether you are a Buddhist or not, you can observe Vesak day 2022 memorably, which will leave you with pure bliss and peace. How can you achieve it? By paying a visit to some of the most incredible monasteries in Singapore. So, let's enrich your life with a list of these 5 gorgeous Buddhist temples for Vesak Day in Singapore.
Vesak Day celebration in Singapore cannot be complete without a visit to the famous Buddha Tooth Relic temple. It is located in the heart of Chinatown, which makes it pretty hard to miss out. Built-in 2007, the temple has drawn countless tourists and locals to witness the interiors and exhibits that showcase the history of the Buddhist religion and culture.
However, what makes the Tooth Relic temple stand out amongst other temples, especially for Vesak Day 2022 is the cultural museum. Situated on the third floor; it is home to numerous sacred artefacts such as the tongue and bone relics that intrigue every visitor.
The town Tao Payoh holds the honour of having Singapore's oldest Buddhist temple- Lian Shan Shuang Li Monastery. The literal meaning of this monastery's name is 'twin grove of the Lotus Mountain temple', and the twin groves refer to the sala trees in Bodhgaya, India.
The influence of the architect of the temple is based on Xi Chan Si, a temple in the Fujian Province. With major three styles as influencers for the design, this temple is a must-visit on Vesak Day in Singapore.
A Vesak day celebration in Singapore for Buddhist believers and non-believers can be deemed complete after they visit the Thian Hock Keng temple. With construction beginning in 1840, the temple has has a huge inflow of people, especially for its traditions and cultures due to the puppet shows and performances by Naniyan and Getai.
While the primary deity of this temple is Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, you can also visit a shrine located at the back and dedicated to Guanyin, a Buddhist bodhisattva of mercy.
This is the oldest Theravada Buddhist traditional temple in Singapore and was founded in 1925.
This temple has ever since undergone several renovations and constructions to make it better and more sustainable. The latest upgrade in 2014 features a Dhamma Hall, cultural centre, monk's abode, meditation hall, and many more facilities.
So, you can complete your list of Vesak Day 2022 monasteries by paying a visit to the Wat Ananda Metyaram Thai Buddhist Temple.
Last but not least on the list of must-visit Buddhist temples for Vesak Day in Singapore is the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
It was founded in 1912 and is the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore. Adding another feather to its cap, in 1984, it became the first temple on the island to hold the three-step-one-bow ceremony, which is basically chanting and bathing of baby prince Siddhartha.
The temple is also home to stunning green lawns, rare artifacts (the Bodhi tree), and beautiful architecture. It also holds the largest Buddha statue in all of Asia. Thus, placing it high up in your temples to visit list for Vesak Day 2022.