KUALA LUMPUR: This year's Wesak Day celebrations did not see large groups of devotees at Buddhist temples offering lamps, flowers, prayers, or mantra chanting.
Instead, devotees connected spiritually either by praying from their homes or virtually.
Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia president Sister Loh Pai Ling said Wesak Day celebration was the most auspicious for the Buddhist community, but this year devotees were encouraged to pray from their homes and remain safe.
She said public safety could not be taken lightly, and with the possible risk of Covid-19 and the government's Movement Control Order 3.0, devotees were told to make a temple of their own homes.
"We just had a small scale celebration at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields. No devotees were allowed. Only the temple committee, resident monk and Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society president Siresena Perera were present this morning," she said.
Loh said the closed door ceremony included the raising of the flag and a prayer session which was streamed live for devotees.
"While, there may be slight disappointment of not being able to celebrate this Thrice Sacred Day at the temples or centres, we encouraged our devotees to take this opportunity to visit their 'inner temple' because the real temple is within our own hearts. They don't have to feel less spiritual just because they were unable to prayer at the temple," she said.
Loh said no visitors were allowed at temples, but in temples like the BMSM Samadhi Vihara (SMV), BMSM Kajang, BMSM-Pa-Auk Dhammavijaya Meditation Centre (DMC) in Dengkil and at the Pusat Buddhis Dhammaduta Malaysia (BMSM PBDM) in Putrajaya, the committee members lit lamps on behalf of the devotees.
"Instead of the usual activities, this year we conducted prayer services online on social media. Devotees could log onto their smartphones and computers to take part in the mass online prayer session today."
She said BMSM also had an e-Wesak Programme for all its members and devotees where it enabled them to go beyond space, without physically being in a temple to make offerings to Buddha on this special day.
"We had a virtual flower and a light offering where one may make a wish while they make their personalised offerings through BMSM's page," she said adding Covid-19 has served as a wake-up call to return to righteousness and the Dhammic way of life.
She said in addition, BMSM had also lined up a series of online talks and activities via www.facebook.com/BMSMalaysia and in WhatsApp and Telegram.
Meanwhile, Subang Jaya Buddhist Association president Andy Lim said this was the second year they had broken away from the usual culture and activities of past years.
"We used to have thousands visiting the temple on this auspicious occasion but the activities were almost the same every year, lighting of the lamps, flower arrangement, prayers, blood donation drives and serving of sumptuous vegetarian food.
"However these two years, since the pandemic and MCO, we tend to look at things a little differently," he said.
Lim said while some of the symbolic prayer rituals like lighting of the lamps and chanting with a limited number of devotees were allowed, they encouraged devotees to pray from home.
"We know it's safer for devotees to celebrate Wesak Day from the comfort and safety of their own homes and that's why we came up with an e-Wesak celebration programme for all our devotees this time.
"As we weather through this pandemic, we reaffirm our great homage to the Triple Gem and Dharma by praying at home and conducting individual chanting. Last night we even had a pre-recorded chanting from monk Bhante U Nyanaramsi who is currently stuck in Thailand streamed for our devotees," he said.
Lim said although the atmosphere at the temple was not the same as before the pandemic, majority of the people understand the need for restrictions and the government's standard operating procedures.
"Although the end is nowhere in sight or soon, we shall all continue to log in to Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family and people you know.
"Pray and follow in the footsteps of Buddha while waiting to return to our normal lives, hopefully soon," he said.