On Saturday 30 May, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, located near Bendigo to the northwest of Melbourne, will hold their third annual “Festival of Light.”
The stupa bathed in light, with a didgeridoo player, at the 2014 festival. From Dee Nissanke
“The ‘Festival of Light’ is a multicultural celebration of peace inspired by the Buddha's birthday,” said the spokesperson for the organization, Dee Nissanke. “We invite everyone from all communities and religions, from all walks of life, to come along for a great afternoon and evening. We had over 8,000 people attending this festival last year, and anticipate even more at this year’s event.”
Lion dance at the 2014 festival. From Dee Nissanke
As with the 2013 and 2014 events, there will be many interesting and informative activities, workshops, and performances. Highlights include a spectacular lights and fireworks show with colored lights and images projected onto the walls of the stupa, an eight-meter fire-breathing metal dragon on the stupa’s second level, and the much-anticipated fireworks display above the stupa.
Lights and fireworks at the 2014 festival. From Dee Nissanke
The afternoon session will begin at 12 noon inside the stupa with chanting from the Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Theravada Buddhist traditions, followed by a flower-offering ceremony. Also included in the afternoon will be a guided meditation, a Dharma talk, cultural dance and music performances from the Vietnamese and Korean traditions, sand mandala-making workshops, and a presentation on the progress of the stupa’s construction and the Jade Buddha Tour.
Performers at the 2014 festival. From Dee Nissanke
The evening session at 6 p.m. will kick off with the releasing of “symbols of peace,” created by schools in the local Bendigo area, by interfaith and community leaders, followed by traditional Tibetan chanting. There will also be dance and music performances from the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, and Australian cultures, an Indonesian shadow puppet show, and the performance of an original Buddhist musical entitled “The Wounded Swan” by the Country Victoria Dance Group (the group that performed the “Birth of the Buddha” musical at the 2014 festival). The festival will conclude with the lights and firework show.
Ongoing activities during the event include a Buddha relics display, Q&A sessions by the resident monks, and lantern-making workshops, a Bodhi wishing tree, tours to the upper levels of the stupa, and incense, flower, and lotus lantern offerings. Visitors can also enjoy delicious vegetarian food from a variety of cuisines, the well-stocked gift shop, and numerous refreshment stalls.
When completed, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion will be a replica of The Stupa Of Gyantse in Tibet, which measures roughly 165 feet along each side of its base and nearly 165 feet high. It is situated in the beautiful countryside, on land that also houses Atisha Buddhist Centre and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery.
The Great Stupa, Atisha Buddhist Centre, and the monastery were established by FPMT’s (The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) co-founder and contemporary Tibetan Buddhist master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, along with his students and supporters. Born in 1946 in Thami, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, Lama Zopa is the spiritual director of FPMT and oversees all its spiritual activities. He visits Australia often to give teachings and empowerments, as well as to lead retreats.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s ‘Festival of Light’,” shared Dee Nissanke. “We invite everyone to come along and enjoy the festivities.”