SINGAPORE: The International Kadampa Buddhist Festival 2007, is expecting 5,000 delegates a day to attend the event in Singapore from October 3-10,
This is the first time the event is being held in Asia and Gen Keisang Wangchog, the resident teacher of the Singapore-based Odiyana Buddhist Meditation Society, said it will be the biggest International Kadampa Festival ever held.
“We chose Singapore principally because of the quality of the conference facilities. The Festival is very much in the spirit of a ‘holiday’ – as practitioners from all over the world meet up as friends to receive the teachings and enjoy the atmosphere of the festival.”
He said he expected up to 80 per cent of delegates would arrive from destinations as diverse as the UK, Europe, North America, South America and South Africa.
The festival will be held at the Suntec Convention Centre and more than 30 hotels will be used to house delegates.
“There are a lot of delegates, and we wanted to provide accommodation across the board from budget to five star,” said Gen Keisang.
He said there were plans to establish Singapore as the central hub for Kadampa Buddhism in the Asia Pacific region.
“All the funds raised from the Festival will go to the Kadampa Temple project – the building of a traditional Kadampa Temple, a temple of great beauty with the practical function of being a teaching and retreat centre, in Singapore.
“This will allow many visitors from the neighbouring Asian countries and Australasia to attend yearly Kadampa Festival events here and regard Singapore as the home of Asian Kadampa Buddhism.”
