Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sian Chye Tong Float 2012

10m dragon to light up Wesak Day parade
GEORGE TOWN: Come Saturday, a 10m-long dragon will make its way through the streets of the city for the annualWesak Day float procession.
The golden dragon, with its more than 5,000 pieces of polystyrene foam scales, is made by the Sian Chye Tong Temple committee in Hye Keat Estate, Air Itam, here.
Its youth section chairman Loh Choon Teik said, in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon, they decided to build a bigger and better float to replace the old one, which only measured 3m.“At the end of the float, there will be a statue of Buddha flanked by two 4m-long dragons,” he said.
“There will also be a rotating Dhamma Wheel or dhammacakka, which symbolises Buddha's teaching of the path tonirvana (enlightenment), behind the statue.”All set: Youth members adding the final
touches to the dragon at the Sian Chye TongTemple in George Town.
He said it took 15 members over two months to complete the float, adding that he came up with the concept anddesign.
“A total of RM25,000 was spent to purchase materials such as polystyrene foam, steel, wire, wood, bamboo and lightemitting diodes (LEDs) for the float.
“We have been taking part in the Wesak Day procession since it started in 1980. We are one of the pioneers,” he said when met at the temple.Temple committee chairman Khoo Gim Siew said the place of worship was fortunate to have dedicated members and thanked them for their time spent in building the structure.“We will officiate the float on the eve of Wesak Day after the temple's annual lighting of oil lamps at 7.30pm,” he said.
“Other activities that day include prayers, bathing of the Buddha statue and a vegetarian buffet,” 
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