Pindabat

It's Merdeka Day today, Malaysia's 65th year of Independence. But I won't be celebrating it in the usual manner (as if there is a usual manner for such things.) Instead, I spent the morning at the Kampong Baru market here in Bukit Mertajam to help out with the pindabat (alms food gathering) ceremony by the monks and nuns from the Nandaka Vihara Meditation Centre in Cherok Tokun. 

The pindabat is an important fixture in the Theravadin Buddhist calendar during vassa or the period of the rains retreat. So this morning, my wife and I went to the market to await the arrival of some 23 monks and nuns. Many of them are temporary monks and nuns who are ordained for only eight days during the vassa. But during these eight days, they are treated similar to the senior monks and nuns of the meditation centre. Yesterday, they lined up outside the hawker centre to await devotees donating food stuff. After two years where this activity was curtailed due to the coronavirus restrictions, this year's pindabat attracted a very large crowd all patiently waiting in line to place their food donations into the alms bowls. A lot of helpers were hovering in the background to collect the donated food stuff for bringing back to the Nandaka Vihara. My job was to take photographs of the occasion. And later, we all assembled at the Nandaka Vihara to help unload the bags of foodstuff and sort them out. Took about two hours to complete by which time, my back was aching badly. Nevertheless, we were overwhelmed by the occasion and stayed back for the lunch dana.