Locals are invited to immerse themselves in a celebration of cultural diversity as the Buddhist of the West Cultural Diversity Festival returns to the St Albans Community Centre on April 27.
The festival, dedicated to commemorating the birth,enlightenment, and nirvana of Buddha, brings together Buddhist masters from various traditions, including Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana, to create a day of blessings for people across the globe.
Event representative Victor Kon said the event aims to welcome people from all walks of life.
“This festival is a global celebration, every Buddhist temple or society will celebrate the Buddha’s Day,” he said.
“We decided to create a multicultural event so that it involves everyone and it is not confined to religion to celebrate Buddhism.
“This event is open to everyone and not confined through religion. The ultimate message is non-discrimination and that everyone is equal to each other.”
The festival will feature a showcase of live performances from diverse cultural traditions, including Indian, Thai, and Filipino cultural dances, as well as the captivating lion dance.
A highlight of the event is the traditional almsgiving ceremony, where Buddhist monks walk through the community, receiving offerings of food and blessings from households along the way. From 9.30-10.30am the head monk will lead a procession through the streets of St Albans, including the main CBD area, where people can participate in the sacred act of giving.
The Buddhist of the West Cultural Diversity Festival will take place on Saturday, April 27, from 10am-3.30pm at the St Albans Community Centre, 33 Princess Street, St Albans.
Details: shorturl.at/cMNQS
Hannah Hammoud
