Everything You Need To Know About Vesak Day In Singapore

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Before the Covid outbreak and mandatory social distancing, at the crack of dawn, devout observers of the faith would congregate at temples to witness the hoisting of the Buddhist flag, sing hymns, offer candles, joss sticks and flowers and more. The candles and joss sticks burn down while the flowers eventually wither – a symbol to represent the transience of life.

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Buddhists believe that performing good deeds on Vesak Day will multiply merit many times over, so many spend the day on worthy causes such as donating blood and other acts of generosity.

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One ritual included on Vesak Day for Theravada Buddhists (consisting mostly of Singapore’s Burmese and Sri Lankan communities) is to cook a pot of rice in milk. This symbolises the last meal Buddha ate before his fast during the journey to his enlightenment.

Most Buddhists in Singapore will only eat vegetarian meals for the day (before the circuit breaker, some temples will have free vegetarian food such as fried bee hoon and vegetables). Fortunately, there are many non-meat options available for delivery – and not just from vegetarian eateries.

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Most people often get the misconception that the Laughing Budai (pictured) is Buddha. The Laughing Budai is actually a jolly, Chinese monk. Friendly and content, he was known for patting his large belly and would often entertain the children that followed him. He represents contentment and abundance.

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In normal times, you would be able to visit any Buddhist temple in Singapore to pray. Temples with more festivity typically include the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Siong Lim Temple, or the Thian Hock Keng Temple.

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Vesak Day often ends with candle-lit processions through the streets in Singapore – though not this year. At one such procession from Phor Kark See Temple, you’d be able to see Buddhists practise the two-hour ‘three-step, one-bow’ ritual, where devotees take steps on both knees and bow at every third step. This ritual is intended to purify all three karmas – body, mind, speech – at one time.