Navigation for Asian Report

Cambodian Community Festival

From Asian Report 5 November 2013

Theravada is the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism and prevalent mainly in South East Asian countries, including Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, with over 150 million followers around the globe. Many Cambodians originally came into New Zealand as former refugees, escaping Pol Pot’s horrific regime in the 1970s.

Three decades later Wellington’s Cambodian community are vibrant, thriving and celebrating a 15-day Theravada Buddhist festival commemorating loved ones who have passed on. Lynda visits the heart of their community – the Wat Buddha Chaya Mahanath Monastery in Island Bay. She finds out why this festival, filled with delicious home-cooked food, is fundamental to the on-going happiness and spiritual well-being of the living and the departed.

Entrance to the Monastery in Island Bay

Miniature Angkor Wat behind the Stupor at Wat Buddha Chaya Mahanath Monastery

Miniature Angkor Wat at the Island Bay Monastery

Flowers surround Buddha at Wat Buddha Chaya Mahanath Monastery

Incense flowers and candles to call the departed

Incense and candles guide the ancestors to the temple

15 Day Festival at the Wat Buddha Chaya Mahabath Monastery, Island Bay

Cambodian community at Island Bay Temple

Cambodian community gathered at the Island Bay Temple

Cambodian community listen to Buddha's teachings

Community leader Mr Sunny Kong speaks for the lay people

Clean up team, dishes done by volunteers

A vow of celibacy means monks are unable to touch lay people

Community partake in lunch after offerings are made to ancestors and monks

Community participation, island Bay Temple

A family make first offerings of rice at the Island Bay temple

Devotion and respect

First offerings of rice to the monks and ancestors

Shaving her head as a sign of devotion, a volunteer helps serve

Offerings of favourite dishes to monks and ancestors, Island Bay Temple

Offerings of lavish homecooked food

Old and young partake

Recitations from Buddha's teachings

Reflecting on Buddha's teachings

Senior Venerable takes food offerings

Sweet dumplings, sticky rice, coconut, agar-agar and mung-bean jelly

Translator Nibarom Young

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.