Selangor Targets National Record With 666 Prince Siddhartha Statues for Wesak Celebration
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is aiming to set a national record by assembling 666 Prince Siddhartha statues in conjunction with the state-level Wesak Day celebration scheduled for June 6.
Selangor Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the number 666 was chosen to reflect the unique date of this year’s celebration, which falls on June 6, 2026.
According to him, the celebration, themed “Bridging Through Digital, Cultivating Wisdom Together”, will be held over three days from June 5 to 7 at Sugata Dharma Vihara Temple and is expected to attract around 5,000 visitors.
He said a variety of spiritual and cultural activities have been arranged throughout the programme, including the Buddha bathing ritual, prayer and chanting sessions led by Mahayana and Theravada monks, Chinese and Sanskrit sutra-copying activities, and prayer wheel sessions.
“The annual programme, organised since 2009, aims to foster multicultural harmony while supporting the Visit Selangor 2026 campaign through cultural tourism promotion,” he said during a press conference at the State Secretariat Annex Building today.
Ng, who also serves as Selangor Investment, Trade and Mobility Committee chairman, said the opening ceremony is expected to be officiated by Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari on June 6 at 9am.
Apart from religious activities, several interactive workshops will also be organised, including woodblock printing, Bodhi leaf crafts and Dharma quote canvas bag-making sessions.
According to him, another key attraction this year will be the Buddhist Stamp Exhibition organised by the World Buddhist Stamps Gallery, showcasing the life story of the Buddha through a collection of unique postage stamps from around the world.
Meanwhile, organising committee chairman and Kajang assemblyman David Cheong Kian Young said various family-friendly activities have also been planned to attract visitors from all age groups.
He said the programme aims to provide the public with a deeper understanding of the true significance of Wesak Day, which commemorates the Buddha’s birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana.
He added that complimentary health screening services, including bone density, cholesterol and muscle mass checks, will also be made available to visitors during the celebration.
The event is organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) and supported by the Malaysian Buddhist Association Kuala Lumpur/Selangor Branch as well as the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society.
-wilayah.com.my
