Buddha's Birthday Celebrations

Buddha's Birthday Celebrations at Southbank Buddha's Birthday Celebrations are organised by the Chung Tian temple in Priestdale, and are held on the first weekend of May each year.
1. As above so below. Buddha when he was born, already walking, with lotus flowers springing up in his footsteps. The statue is standing on a water fountain. And no - it's not the Boogie, but the wisdom of the Buddha!	2. An elaborate altar with a life size gold Buddha, and the white one behind over 12 feet tall, all surrounded by hundreds of metres of pink satin.
3. One of the many, very large altars set up for the celebration, laden with fruit, fresh flowers, and holy objects such as the stupas under the glass cases.	4. The view of Southbank, the Performing Arts Complex, and the Buddha's Birthday celebrations from Victoria bridge.
5. The entrance to Southbank where the festival is held, on a long promenade beside the Brisbane river. The gates are especially erected for the occasion.	6. Dragon dance in the procession early on the first morning.
7. Larger than life-size Buddha statue transforming the usually austere fountains.	8. The morning procession with representatives from all the Buddhist traditions (including Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Zen).
9. Visitors get the chance to bless the bell and ring out the sound of the Dharma to the whole city.	10. Another large altar with many larger than life Bodhisattvas flanking the standing Buddha, Amitabha.
11. The Chinese equivalent of Girl Guides looking wonderfully incongruous amongst the stalls.	12. On the path of the great Buddhist saints and teachers is our dear departed treasurer, Gunter.
13. Dragon dancing and martial arts perilously close to the fountains.	14. The rich canopy enveloping the Buddha. It took eight men to carry the palanquin through the festival.
15. Impeccable Buddhist hostesses showing people how to bathe the Buddha. Afterwards you would receive a lotus lapel pin for peace and harmony.	16. As you spoon the water over the statue of the Buddha, the hostess holds a card from which you recite "May I refrain from harm. May I try to help. I will always watch my mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha."
17. Crowds lining up to bathe the Buddha; a perplexingly joyful practice.	18. As the day draws to a close, tropical thunder clouds gather and the light glows many-coloured through the curtains, illuminating the Buddhas.
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