Free festival for all ages launches this Friday night with spectacular light show
This Friday a spectacular light show will illuminate Melbourne’s Federation Square, spreading a message of light and hope after a year of darkness and turbulence.
The Buddha’s Light International Association of Victoria, in collaboration with Fo Guag Shan Melbourne, has curated a weekend of events dedicated to family-friendly entertainment, running from Friday night through Sunday. All events take place at Federation Square and are completely free of charge.
The Life of Buddha animated display will prove most popular, commencing on Friday at 6.15pm and again on Saturday night from 6pm. The digital show envelops Federation Square in a light display, covering walls and walkways to immerse viewers in a stunning array of flowers and images from the Life of Buddha. The display will launch with Sally Capp, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, switching on the display with the Light It Up Ceremony on Friday at 6.15pm.
Other events include the World Peace Blessing & Opening Ceremony, taking place ahead of the Life of Buddha display on Friday night, which opens with a spectacular lion dance performed by the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne. This is then followed by the national anthem, performed by the Victorian National Boys Choir. Visitors will also experience traditional Buddhist practices such as incense burning, bell ringing, Bathing the Buddha and a traditional blessing for world peace.
“After a turbulent year for our friends all over the world, we want to mark a moment of hope and light”, says Dominique Yu, World Headquarters Director of Buddha’s Light International Association.
“It’s important for us to share this message with Victoria and all who have had a challenging year. We hope to celebrate a fresh beginning with you – and a message of peace – this weekend”, she added.
Buddha’s Light International Association is a Buddhist community dedicated to the propagation of the Dharma, cultural exchange, education and charity work. The Victorian Headquarters is based in Yarraville, where it has been running for nearly three decades.
The weekend includes an extravaganza of multicultural performances across the weekend. The line-up includes lion dances, Taichi performances and K-pop performances, as well as songs from the Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir, Djembe African Drummers and Asanti African Dance. A teenage streetdance troop, Kstar Evlutionz, will also entertain the crowd.
To see the schedule, head to: https://www.buddhaday.org.au/
All events are free of charge and run Friday 14 – Sunday 16 May.