LIGHTS and colours will return to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion next month for the Illumin8 celebration.<\/p>\n
From 6pm to 8pm on Saturday, 4 June, the sacred Buddhist building and adjoining Peace Park will feature art installations and colours, topped off by a fireworks display.<\/p>\n
Marketing and events manager at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Matt Griffin, said Illumin8 is the monument\u2019s festival of light and peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt originated as a celebration of Buddha\u2019s life, it commemorates his birth, the enlightenment and death of Buddha, according to the Tibetan festival of Saga Dawa where this whole festival originated from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve run with that and turned it into a really fun, family-friendly event with all our light installations, vendors and food, with multicultural and other religious performers as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Griffin said the celebration hasn\u2019t been held at its full capacity since 2019, and this year will be the first time fireworks will be fired off from the top of the Stupa, after the parasol and finial installed in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a new light installation that tells the story of Buddha which will look great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve put together a new immersive light show, it\u2019s never been seen before.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Peace Park will be lit up beautifully with fairy lights, animals and different colours. The Great Stupa will have lights shining on it giving it great patterns and exposure. We\u2019re very excited to put that on for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local vendors will be offering unique vegetarian food, and cultural performances and Buddhist ceremonies will also take place throughout the evening.<\/p>\n