Penang: Final preparations for this Sunday's Wesak Day celebrations are in full swing in Penang, with over 15,000 Buddhist devotees and visitors expected to attend festivities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a survey at the Penang Lee Sih Chong Soo (Lee Kongsi) building at Jalan Burma, this year's main Wesak Day celebration location, found volunteers decorating floats with thousands of fresh flowers and erecting tents. Penang Wesak Day Organising Committee chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun stated that preparations began two weeks ago to ensure everything runs smoothly, with the oil lamp-lighting ceremony scheduled for tomorrow night.

He mentioned that 23 floats will enhance the procession in conjunction with this year's Penang state-level Wesak Day celebrations, themed 'Bridging through digital, cultivating wisdom together.' "The procession will feature floats from various Buddhist temples and organisations, including a 4.5-metre-tall main float from the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA), which will be decorated with thousands of fresh flowers and LED lights by a professional team," he said, noting that the annual grand procession, a tradition since 1949, will begin at 6 pm on Sunday.

Preparations are also progressing smoothly at several other Wesak Day locations around Penang, including Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Wat Chaiyamangalaram in Lorong Burma, and Wat Buppharam in Jalan Perak. Loh indicated that the month-long celebration includes various events, religious activities, and charitable works held before and after the festival's peak this Sunday.

"The highlight is the Wesak Day procession, but there are also other events, including the Wesak eve ceremony, a dinner reception, the presentation of donations and angpows to welfare organisations, Dhamma talks, as well as the contribution of funds to the Sangha (alms-giving to monks)," he elaborated. This year's Wesak eve ceremony and Wesak Day celebrations have been relocated to Penang Lee Sih Chong Soo instead of the usual venue at the nearby MBA building due to the demolition of the association's headquarters to make way for new construction.

Loh also informed that members of the public wishing to donate flowers for the main float can do so at Penang Lee Sih Chong Soo on designated dates and times. Meanwhile, Northeast deputy police chief Supt Lee Swee Sake announced that police will implement road closures along the procession route in stages on Sunday, from 6 pm until the event concludes at around midnight.

He assured that police will conduct traffic and security controls throughout the period to ensure smooth traffic flow and participant safety. "The affected procession routes are Jalan Burma (Start), Jalan Pangkor, Jalan Kelawai, Lorong Burma, Jalan Burma, Jalan Perak (against traffic flow), Lebuhraya Peel (against traffic flow), Jalan Macalister (against traffic flow), Jalan Perak (against traffic flow), Jalan Anson (against traffic flow), Jalan Macalister, Lorong Madras, and returning to Jalan Burma," he detailed.

Lee added that 172 police officers and personnel will be on duty throughout the celebration to ensure smooth operations and public safety, including traffic management. He advised the public, especially motorists, to plan their journeys, follow officers' instructions, and use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion.

Wesak Day, the most sacred festival in Buddhism, commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. It falls on the full moon of the Vaisakha lunar month.