On May 24, following a five-year hiatus, the Greater Toronto Area’s largest Buddhist celebration—the Vesak Festival: Buddha’s Birthday Celebration—returned in full grandeur to Mississauga Celebration Square. The event drew nearly 10,000 attendees in a vibrant celebration of spiritual heritage, cultural diversity, and communal harmony.

The festival was jointly hosted by the West End Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, Cham Shan Temple (Canada), and Karma Sonam Dargye Ling, with the collaboration of 27 Buddhist temples and organizations from across the Greater Toronto Area. The event brought together Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna Buddhist traditions, uniting practitioners in a day of ceremonial observance and intercultural exchange. The program featured a Buddha bathing ceremony, interfaith prayers, a grand parade, and multicultural performances.

Attendees included devotees and cultural representatives from Laos, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet, India, Vietnam,and Myanmar, underscoring the global nature of the gathering. Distinguished dignitaries graced the occasion, including Her Worship Carolyn Parrish, Mayor of the City of Mississauga; The Honourable Peter Fonseca, Member of Parliament for Mississauga East–Cooksville; The Honourable Deepak Anand, Member of Provincial Parliament for Mississauga–Malton; Members of Mississauga City Council; and senior representatives of the Peel Regional Police. These officials commended the Buddhist community’s longstanding dedication to fostering compassion, peace, and social cohesion.

Opening remarks were delivered by Venerable Dr. Bhante Saranapala, Abbess Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbot Venerable Da Yi, and Venerable Lama Tenzin, who each encouraged attendees to reflect on the timeless teachings of the Buddha. Abbess Venerable Chueh Fan highlighted the importance of embodying the “Three Acts of Goodness”—to do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts—as a foundation for building a harmonious society.

The day’s festivities commenced with a grand parade led by a statue of Prince Siddhartha. More than 300 monastics and lay practitioners dressed in traditional attire participated in the procession, which was accompanied by the rhythmic energy of the Toronto Fo Guang Dragon and Lion Dance Team. The parade route circled Celebration Square and the surrounding streets, drawing admiration from a large and appreciative audience.

Following the parade, a solemn joint prayer ceremony was conducted in Pāli, Chinese, and Tibetan by over 100 monastic srepresenting multiple Buddhist traditions. The ceremony concluded with a symbolic dove release, representing prayers for universal peace and loving-kindness.

Around the square, interactive booths presented Buddhist teachings and cultural exhibits. Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto’s “Fo Guang Stamp Collection Station” welcomed visitors to engage with the Three Acts of Goodness Sramanera, explore the “Positive Forecasts for Life” display, and enjoy a complimentary vegetarian meal at the temple. All 500 stamp cards were eagerly collected by participants.

The celebration culminated with a series of multicultural performances, including Myanmar’s oil lamp blessing dance, the Seven Steps Tea Ceremony, Bengali devotional music, and spirited presentations by the Toronto Fo Guang Dragon and Lion Dance Team and the 24 Seasons Drum Team. These performances showcased the vitality and cultural pride of Buddhist youth in Canada, concluding a day that powerfully affirmed the enduring relevance of the Buddha’s message of compassion and unity.