Covid-19: Buddhist temple cancels centenary celebration

A large crowd gathered for Wesak day celebration at Seck Kia Eenh Temple Jalan Gajah Berang Malacca in 2018. Photo A Malex Yahaya / The Star Melaka

MELAKA: The Seck Kia Eenh (SKE) Buddhist Temple is cancelling its 100th-year celebration in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SKE was founded in 1920 by a group of Straits-born Buddhists and the name means Lord Buddha’s monastery.

The temple's honorary secretary Baba Chan Leong Hin said the centennial celebration and state-level Wesak Eve procession are very important events for SKE.

"These two events could easily garner a crowd of not less than 80,000 people and we have decided to cancel them to ensure the health and safety of our devotees," he said on Sunday (April 12).

He said other major programmes being organised in conjunction with the centennial celebration had also been deferred.

Chan said those who had purchased SKE centenary dinner tickets should hold on to them as the new date has been fixed for Nov 28.

He said SKE has also put on hold activities, among others, puja services held every Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays, new moon and full moon puja services (both Theravada and Mahayana chants), its Sunday Dhamma school and daily dana (offering of food) by the public to monks.

However, Chan said the SKE board had agreed that distribution of essentials to the poor and monthly contribution for existing cancer fund recipients would proceed via online channels, or with “prudent precautions” including social distancing if they need to be made in person.

“It was not an easy decision to make but we had to strike a balance between protecting health and minimising disruption,” he said.

He said SKE had also taken the initiative to set up a crisis management team to handle the situation, and the public could contact the hotline number at 011-51849376.

Chan added that the temple had also initiated live broadcasts via the Seck Kia Eenh official Facebook page, live conferencing and continuous sharing of dhamma talks, guided meditation and Sutta studies.

“We hope to support our members virtually so that they can stay connected and maintain a high level of mental wellness,” he said. - Star