Photo Andy Harjula.
Visitors braved the cold and wind to catch a glimpse of the completed Buddhist Garden north of Bethany during a consecration ceremony attended by 3,000 dignitaries.
A large ceremony to celebrate the completion of the main Buddhist Hall and consecration of Buddha statues at Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden was held at the Wutai Shan Buddhist Temple on October 5th.
The three hour ceremony was complete with pageantry, bands, trumpets, flags, dignitaries and their speeches; including Mayor Scott McFadden. Approximately 100 monks came from China to assist in the celebrations. The dignitaries were joined by approximately 3,000 visitors who braved the cool windy weather to witness this important event.
Visitors were unable to enter the Buddhist Hall because the hall was still under construction. Instead the ceremonies were conducted outside on the steps leading up to the Buddhist Hall.
Numerous vendors were on hand, selling a wide variety of food including waffles in the shape of egg cartons, fries, chicken balls and of course Chinese noodles. In addition there was an entire tent devoted to the sale of books and trinkets.
Compared to previous events at Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, this event was very well organized with an abundance of staff who kept traffic flowing and many golf carts to transport the elderly and the infirm about the property.
The City of Kawartha Lakes deserve credit for erecting “No Parking” signs on Ski Hill Road for a kilometer north and south of the Garden entrance and the signs were backed up by an ample police presence.
The guided public tours are expected to return to the Garden in the spring of next year.
By Andy Harjula