31/05/2026
槟城-推动大马卫塞节成为假日的先驱
Penang - The Pioneer in Pushing for Wesak Day to Become a Public Holiday in Malaysia
提到卫塞节，人人能想到的肯定是那绚丽夺目的花车出游又或者是为悉达多太子沐浴的场景。那你又是否知道，槟城曾经是马来亚联邦首个举行游行庆祝卫塞节的州属，也是推动申请卫塞节成为全国假日的主要地点？
这要归功于一位来自被俗称牛奶佛寺的金宝路玛兴达拉麻佛寺第三任住持-德宝长老（Ven. K. Gunaratana Nayaka Maha Thera）。据资料显示，卫塞节假日委员会秘书已故林东益（音译）在二战前就曾向英殖民政府提出申请，无奈期间遇上日本占领期间，申请工作被迫中断。然而在日治时期的1945年1月11日，该团体与日本政府官员会面商讨有关事宜，但之后又因日盟军对槟城的轰炸导致商讨计划陷入中止。1949年3月22日，委员会拟出了第一份备忘录，提呈给时任马来亚联合邦高级专员兼钦差大臣Henry Gurney。
最终在1949年4月28日，卫塞节终于被正式宣布槟城、马六甲、吉打和霹雳州为公共假期；雪兰莪、 吉兰丹、玻璃市、登加楼及森美兰州的佛教徒公务员，于卫塞节当日获准休假。
随着马来亚佛教总会于1959年成立，该会一直都积极向联邦政府申请全国假日之事。在马佛总及全国佛教徒努力之下，于1962年2月28日，联邦政府通过马来亚电台宣布将卫塞节列为全国公共假期。
回到1949年卫塞节，玛兴达拉麻佛寺举办槟城州内首次的卫塞节游行。当天，长达约1.6公里的游行队伍浩浩荡荡从金宝路玛兴达拉麻佛寺开始游行直至安顺律槟城佛学院，再返回到玛兴达拉麻佛寺。信徒们手持鲜花及佛旗随着游行队伍出发，沿途还吸引不少民众聚集观看这历史性的一幕。
近年来，槟城州的卫塞节游行规模随着马来西亚佛教总会与州政府及各个寺院的合作下愈加盛大，超过50辆花车及佛教社团将上街游行庆祝卫塞节。如今，我们可以看到装饰得美轮美奂的各个寺庙花车、穿着华丽制服的游行队伍穿梭在乔治市的街道上，成为佛教徒一家大小在卫塞节假日最重要的活动。
Penang - The Pioneer in Pushing for Wesak Day to Become a Public Holiday in Malaysia
When people think of Wesak Day, they often picture the spectacular and beautifully decorated floats parading through the streets, or the scene of bathing Prince Siddhartha. But did you know that Penang was the first state in Malaysia to organise a procession to celebrate Wesak Day, and played a leading role in the campaign to make Wesak Day a national public holiday?
This achievement was achieved by Venerable K. Gunaratana Nayaka Maha Thera, the third abbot of the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple.
According to historical records, the late Mr Lim Teong Aik ,secretary of the Wesak Day Holiday Committee, had applied to the British colonial government for Wesak Day to be declared a holiday before World War II. Unfortunately, the application was interrupted during the Japanese Occupation. On 11 January 1945, during the Japanese era, the group met with Japanese government officials to discuss the matter, but the discussions were halted again after Allied forces bombed Penang.
On 22 March 1949, the committee prepared its first memorandum and submitted it to Sir Henry Gurney, the then High Commissioner of the Federation of Malaya. Finally, on 28 April 1949, Wesak Day was officially declared a public holiday in Penang, Malacca, Kedah, and Perak. Buddhist civil servants in Selangor, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu, and Negeri Sembilan were granted leave on Wesak Day.
After the Malaysian Buddhist Association of was established in 1959, the organisation continued to actively petition the federal government to declare Wesak Day a nationwide public holiday. During 28 February 1962, the federal government announced via Radio Malaya that Wesak Day would be observed as a national public holiday.
Back in 1949, the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple organised Penang’s first-ever Wesak Day procession. On that day, the procession stretching approximately 1.6 kilometres set off from the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, Kampar Road passed through the Penang Buddhist Association on Anson Road, and returned to the temple. Devotees carrying flowers and Buddhist flags marched along the route, drawing large crowds to gather to witness this historic moment.
In recent years, Penang’s Wesak Day procession has grown even more grand, the collaboration between the Malaysian Buddhist Association, the state government, and various temples. More than 50 ornate floats and Buddhist organisations now take to the streets to celebrate Wesak Day. Today, visitors can admire the specially decorated temple floats and groups of devotees in splendid uniforms parading through the streets of George Town. It has become the most important activity for Buddhist families during the Wesak Day holiday.
References: Mahindarama Buddhist Temple 85 Years of History (1918-2003)
Youth of Malaysia
(All photos are reproduced from the book "Mahindarama Buddhist Temple 85 Years of History (1918-2003)" and restored in high definition using AI.)
