What is Vesak?

Narrator: This is Art and Enda, and they are five years old. That’s their Mum.

Art and Enda’s Mum: Let’s go on it?

Art and Enda: Yeah.

Art and Enda’s Mum: Shall we play a game?

Art: Yeah.

Enda: Yeah.

Art and Enda’s Mum: What shall we play?

Art and Enda: Tig!

Narrator: Tig! What a great choice! Off you go!

Today, Art and Enda will do something new for the first time, but what will it be?

Art and Enda’s Mum: So, it’s coming soon, can you help me to celebrate Vesak?

Everyone: Yay!

Narrator: Vesak, how exciting!

Vesak is a Buddhist festival which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

Buddha was a monk and religious leader, who founded Buddhism over two thousand years ago. People who serve in the temple are called monks, and they wear plain orange clothes.

Vesak is usually celebrated by going to the temple with your friends and family, and offering the monks tasty homemade food.

Back at home, Mum has planned an exciting activity for Art and Enda.

Art and Enda’s Mum: Can you help me to bring all this stuff outside, and we’re going to make it outside? Is that ok?

Art: Yes!

Art and Enda’s Mum: Yes? Let’s go.

Art: So, what are we making?

Art and Enda’s Mum: We are making a sun catcher.

Narrator: A sun catcher is a colourful ornament that we hang on windows or doors that catches the light.

Art: Blue first.

Narrator: On goes the colourful paper. Which colours will you use, Enda? Let’s see what they look like on the windows.

Good tracing, Art. I bet they catch lots of light.

Art and Enda have come to the park with Mum to meet a monk and learn more about Buddhism.

Buddhist monk: Nice to meet you.

Art and Enda’s Mum: Nice to meet you.

Narrator: They all go to a quiet place in the park and see lots of flowers and animals on the way. They bow to the monk three times before speaking.

Enda: Why do you celebrate Vesak?

Buddhist monk: Because Vesak is very important for Buddhists. It significantly marks the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

Narrator: Art and Enda have come to the Buddhist temple with their Mum to celebrate Vesak.

Everyone gets ready for a procession around the temple. They walk around the temple three times and light a candle.

Outside, everyone is gathering to get some traditional food. Look at all the people queueing! The food must be good.

Enda: What’s that?

Art and Enda’s Mum: That’s a Thai sweet.

Narrator: There is also spicy mince and grilled pork.

Enda: What a great thing to do on Vesak Day.

Art and Enda’s Mum: I agree.