The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is throwing a family-friendly celebration this week, in honour of the 91st birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Escape to this remarkable landmark near Bendigo, and see the Great Stupa and surrounding Peace Park lit up for the evening. Wander the grounds, enjoy live performances, and enjoy a bit of birthday cake. The Enlighten event is open to all, and will run from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday, July 11.
Enlighten: Celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 91st Birthday
Celebrate the life of this respected spiritual leader, and reflect on his message of peace at Enlighten. Gaze at the Great Stupa, lit up in splendid colours, and take your time exploring the illuminated Peace Park. See a Bodhi Tree forest, which grown from cuttings from a tree brought to Australia by the Dalai Lama. As you continue exploring, you’ll also see symbols from many faiths, such as Catholic, Sikh, Islam and Hindu.
On the night, you can enjoy traditional Tibetan performances, lion dancing and activities for the whole family. And, since it’s a birthday party, you can look forward to birthday cake too.
More about The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
A stupa, also known as a pagoda, is the most sacred building in Buddhism, as it symbolises the enlightened mind and the path to enlightenment. This building is the largest Buddhist stupa in the Western world, and is the same design and size at The Great Stupa of Gyantse in Tibet. The idea for this peaceful retreat first came about in 1981, and is being built to last for 1000 years. At its base, it is 50 metres wide, and it rises 48 metres above the bushland in Bendigo.
Today, it is home to the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. At 2.5 metres high, and weighing around 4 tonnes, this is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world. The venue is also home to a large collection of holy relics.
Swing by during the day to wander around the Peace Park, go inside the Great Stupa temple, see the relics and learn more about Buddhist culture. Check out the library, and see the Murals of Tibet exhibition. This display features life-size images of Tibetan Buddhist murals, many of which are located in remote monasteries and temples.
If you’re hungry, pop by the Stupaview Café for lunch, dessert or coffee. Everything at the cafe is vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options available.
Learn more about the Great Stupa here.
Key details:
📅Saturday, July 11
🕒6pm to 9pm
🎫$20 for adults aged 16+, $16 concession and $10 for children aged 3 to 16.
📍25 Sandhurst Town Rd, Myers Flat VIC 3556
For more details about the Enlighten event, click here.
