The ultimate guide to Vesak Day in Singapore

On Vesak Day, devotees gather at the break of dawn to raise the Buddhist flag and sing hymns. They give offerings like flowers, candles and joss sticks, which through their withering and burning, symbolise the decay and destruction that life is subject to. This is a day of goodwill, so Buddhists are encouraged to spread happiness through volunteering, and to refrain from killing of any kind. So, practitioners tend to stick to a meat-free diet on Vesak Day. In other countries, Buddhists may also release caged animals – but that's banned in Singapore to protect the local ecosystem. 

When Buddha was born, it's believed that devas and spirits made heavenly offerings by showering him with sacred waters from the sky. On Vesak Day, temples set out altars with small statues of an infant Buddha, as well as small basins filled with water and flowers. Visiting devotees re-enact the events at Buddha's birth by 'bathing' the statue with the scented water as a way to cleanse any bad karma. 

Under normal circumstances, Vesak Day would end in large candlelight processions where you can witness the 'three steps, one bow' practice. For two hours, devotees shuffle on both knees, bowing at every third step while they pray for blessings and repentance. It is the Mahayana Buddhists (mainly from the Chinese community) that take part in this practice. 

Theravada Buddhism is practised by Sri Lankan and Burmese Buddhists in Singapore. This division of Buddhism is said to be the oldest, and the more conservative, of the two main strains. It has many differing practices from Mahayana Buddhism, including one ritual on Vesak Day: they cook a pot of rice in milk to create a pudding, reminiscent of the rice milk (called 'kheer') that Buddha accepted from the milkmaid Sujata which gave him the strength to attain enlightenment. 

This hillside Buddhist complex, founded in the 1920s, contains classic Chinese temple structures, tranquil gardens, a tortoise pool, a crematorium and a majestic bell and drum tower. It's the perfect setting for Vesak Day celebrations, including the 3-step, 1-bow ceremony happening on June 1. Devotees will gather before sunrise to walk the perimeter of the complex while chanting mantras purify the mind and humble the ego. Other ceremonies include the bathing of Prince Siddhartha, Thousand Buddha Ceremony and lotus lamp offerings. There'll also be a vegetarian food fair and mindfulness workshops.

Vesak Day commemorations are already in full swing at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Over the next few days, devotees can head down to participate in Vesak Day blessings and lamp offerings in the complex's various halls and chambers. Register your attendance here – or if you're unable to make it in person, the temple also offers live streaming. 

Head down to Singapore's first dedicated Buddhist library to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. Housed in a shophouse in Geylang, the library will be running activities for the whole of Vesak Day, which you're free to drop in on any time you're free. Ceremonies include the bathing of Prince Siddhartha, morning and evening pujas, as well as meditation sessions and candle light processions. Check out the full programme here.