The wonderful Buddha’s Day & Multicultural Festival is lighting up Golden Square this May. Celebrate with arts, music, workshops, multicultural performances and Buddhist ceremonies over three fun-filled days, from Friday May 2 to Sunday May 4. This festival is free to attend, and will run from 6:30pm to 9pm on Friday, 11am to 9pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
Buddha’s Day & Multicultural Festival
This festival is presented by Fo Guang Shan Melbourne and Buddha’s Light International Association of Victoria. The festivities will launch with the Light It Up Opening Ceremony at 6:30pm on Friday. Look forward to cultural performances, traditional Buddhist ceremonies, as well as a dazzling animated light projection that will bring the five-storey Bodhi Tree mural to life. This mural on 217 Lonsdale Street was first painted for the 2022 festival, and mesmerised the audience with a stunning mapped projection. The display this year promises to be even more spectacular.
Other events you can look forward to include:
- Mindfulness Forest – venture into this space and find a sense of calm by colouring the tall illuminated columns.
- Lumbini Garden – visit this garden of giant statues and lotus flowers. This space replicates the Lumbini Garden, where Queen Maya gave birth to Buddha.
- Multicultural performances – celebrate Melbourne’s diversity and see a vast range of song and dance performances and workshops from a vast range of cultures, including Japanese, Indonesian, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, African and Scottish.
- Bathing the Buddha – celebrate the birth of Buddha by pouring fragrant water over the statue of Buddha three times. This symbolic act cleanses the body, speech and thoughts. You’re welcome to give it a go, even if you’re not a Buddhist.
- Tai Chi & Meditation – learn and experience the benefits of Tai Chi and meditation during guided sessions.
- Children’s Wonderland – the kids will have plenty of fun, with puppet shows, face painting, mindful arts & crafts and creative storytelling.
- Baby Blessing Ceremony – the Venerables of Fo Guang Shan will bless children aged five and under. Parents will need to register to be a part of this ceremony. Find out more here.