New pagoda attraction

Over a thousand devotees and monks from around the world are expected to gather at the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple in Penang on May 15 to celebrate the grand opening of the RM3mil Golden Pagoda Bell Tower. Completed last month, the 33m-high four-storey tower occupies a built-up area of 697sq m in the grounds of the temple — one of the state’s tourism landmarks — on Burma Lane. Organising chairman Datuk Tan Gim Soon said the bell tower was the brainchild of temple chief monk, U Pannya Vamsa.

Fine workmanship: (from left) Tan, U Pannya Vamsa and temple trustee Yeap Theam Kwee looking at a marble mural in the Golden Pagoda Bell Tower

He said the chief monk had a vision three years ago to bring in replicas of Buddhist shrines from other countries and feature them all under one roof. “It would encourage people to come and view the marble murals, which are sculptured and the authentic replicas of ancient Buddha shrines from 22 countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Tibet, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mongolia and Malaysia,” he told a press conference on Wednesday.

Temple management committee president K.B. Teoh said the first three floors of the building housed Buddhist artifacts, relics, ornaments and Buddha images. “The top floor will house the dome, pagoda and temple bell. “The structure of the building was done by a group of craftsmen from Myanmar while the statues in it were also brought in from Myanmar,” he added.

The opening ceremony, which begins at 9am, will include a procession around the temple, guided tours and a multi-cultural stage show.

-thestar online.