Portrait Mode is a photo essay series of Singapore and all the people and things in it, seen through the lenses of our young photographers at Mothership.

To commemorate Vesak Day, we're reproducing photos of Vesak Day rituals captured at the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in 2019. 

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Vesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment, and final nirvana of Gautama Buddha.

In 2019, the Khor Meng San Phor Park See (KMSPKS) Monastery, the biggest monastery in Singapore, held activities which stretched over two weeks.

Shaving heads for charity

The monastery kicked off the Vesak festivities with a Hair For Hope shaving ceremony in partnership with the Children's Cancer Foundation on May 1, 2019.

It might seem strange to celebrate the Buddha by shaving heads but giving up one's hair to raise funds for children in need is a reflection of Buddhist values like compassion and kindness.

Patrons of KMSPKS have been shaving their heads for children with cancer since 2012.

From 2012 to 2019, patrons raised more than S$1.2 million for the charity.

Standing in the Hall of No Form amidst a sea of devotees - all 455 of them - dressed in the official navy blue Hair For Hope t-shirts, it's hard not to be impressed by the turn out.

And as I later learned, the devotees managed to raise S$101,115.47 for the Children's Cancer Foundation as of May 1, 2019.

 

One of the beneficiaries of the Children Cancer Foundation was 14-year-old Joanna Chong.

Diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, when she was 10, Chong had to to undergo surgery to remove the tumour and endure radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

That day, Chong, who was in remission, was all smiles when I spoke to her.

"I feel it's quite meaningful to see so many people supporting children with cancer," she smiled shyly.

While this was Chong's first time shaving her head for Hair For Hope, her father has been doing this since 2013.

"Doing it before she was diagnosed and after she became a beneficiary, I really appreciate the work that CCF does, which is why I continue to support it," said Chong's father, who was also a patron of KMSPSK Monastery.

The Light Transference Ceremony

More than a week later on May 11, I visited the monastery again to observe the Light Transference ceremony.

During the ceremony, devotees carried lighted candles and walked in a procession around the monastery while chanting the name of the Buddha.

A lighted candle, according to Buddhism, represents light and wisdom which dispels darkness, unwholesome deeds, and ignorance.

Another integral part of the Light Transference ceremony is the making aspirations.

Aspirations can be made for a variety of things.

This lady wished for good health, national security, and a harmonious family.

Even before the ceremony started proper, a large number of devotees had arrived early to reserve their seats for the procession.

Some took the time to read chants and prepare for the ceremony.

While the procession was led by monks, a group of lay people was tasked with carrying symbolic items like these banners which are inscribed with the different names of Buddha.

These devotees wore black ceremonial garb called Hǎi Qīng (海青).

Before the procession started proper, monks led the devotees in a time of chanting and meditation in the Hall of Great Compassion.

Here, the monastery's abbot Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng kneels before a statue of Guanyin.

The monastery also broadcasted the entire Light Transference ceremony via a Facebook Live video, allowing devotees at home a front-row seat to the entire ritual.

After a round of mass chanting, the candles were lit and the procession around the monastery started.

According to the monastery, about 7,000 devotees took part in the Light Transference ceremony.

Carrying candles on a humid night was bound to be uncomfortable but the devotees soldiered on, and even chanted together as they walked.

Meanwhile, volunteers at the monastery's canteen prepared noodles which were given out to famished devotees.

 

The Three-Step-One-Bow

Finally, another week later on May 18, I arrived back at the monastery for the last major Vesak Day rituals, the Three-Step-One-Bow, and the bathing of Prince Siddhartha.

It was the actual Vesak Day weekend and the crowd was bigger than ever. Even hours before the actual ceremonies, the monastery was abuzz with devotees offering prayers, incense and flowers.

 

As the Three-Step-One-Bow ceremony drew near, devotees started gathering at the starting line.

The atmosphere was akin to a carnival fun-run, of sorts.

 

 

After a chanting session, the monks led the procession proper.

Devotees took three steps before prostrating themselves on the ground with their palms facing up, while chanting a homage to Buddha. This was repeated around the perimeter of the monastery.

Each act of prostration is a sign of respect to the Buddha and is believed to help purify the mind as devotees repent of unwholesome deeds and speech.

The arduous and lengthy ritual reminds devotees of the difficult journey towards enlightenment. Hence, doing it during Vesak Day is considered by many to be very meritorious.

 

The procession culminated in front of the Hall of Great Compassion where Venerable Sik sprinkled holy water on devotees who completed the journey.

As you can imagine, the cool water was a welcome respite for them. Many whooped and yelled "Thank you!" as they were drenched.

Meanwhile other devotees gathered at the Hall of Great Compassion to pour perfumed water on a small statue of a baby Prince Siddhartha (who later became the Buddha), to signify his birth.

This ritual comes from the story of the prince who was believed to have pointed one hand to the sky and another to the earth when he was born.

Immediately after he was born, streams of water came pouring down from heaven.

Today, devotees replicate that scene by bathing his statue while aspiring to purify their own minds.

Watch this soundscape of the Vesak Day celebrations captured at the KMSPKS monastery in 2019:

The experience reminded me that, far from being just another public holiday, Vesak Day is rich in symbolism and meaning, especially for our Buddhist friends.

This year, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it impossible for devotees to commemorate Vesak Day at the monastery.

However, devotees can still celebrate Vesak Day through the monastery's virtual celebration with free Buddhist e-books, an online pledge to chant the name of the Medicine Buddha and more.

Special thanks to the KMSPKS Monastery and my Buddhist guide, Loh Wei.