People from a variety of Buddhist traditions gathered in the Hidden Garden in Pollokshields last month to celebrate Vesak, the most important date in the Buddhist calendar.

Followers believe Buddha ‘woke up’  or was ‘enlightened’ to the essential truths of life 2551 years ago while sitting under a gingko tree. Followers from Southern Asian also mark Buddha’s birth and passing on Vesak.

So, for the fourth year in a row, Buddhists from Tibetan to Sri Lankan tradition and from Japanese to Western interpretations, celebrated Buddha’s ‘birthday’ in traditional style in the Hidden Garden where there is a gingko tree.

After The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Sudantha Ganegama Arachchi, performed the ritual opening ceremony – puja - there was dancing by renowned Sri Lankan dancer Jinadasa Niwithigala, traditional drumming and the giving away of food, because generosity is crucial to the Buddhist way of life.

Volunteers (pictured here) had spent much of the night preparing enough tasty vegetarian food to feed more than 300 adults and children. There were workshops and storytelling for the youngsters and a lively symposium to discuss Buddhism at Work for the adults. Chairing the discussion was Professor Perry Schmidt-Leukel of Glasgow University.

Contributors included Kark Kaliski of the Cloud Water Zen Group, Dh Amitasubha of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and Ven Sumana sirii of the Theravadin tradition. The Venerable Rewatha, who set up a Buddhist temple in Maryhill in Glasgow four years ago and Viryadevi of Glasgow Buddhist Centre in Sauchiehall Street, led the procession through the garden to the shrine at the gingko tree at the end of the day with the chants of ‘May all beings be happy’ ringing out.