Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple Jenjarom - Chinese New Year 2014

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Here are some 50 photos of my recent visit to Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom new village, near Banting town in Selangor state of Malaysia. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) is a Buddist Temple cum School of Buddhism.

Every year the temple is a hive of activities during the Chinese New Year season. They have different themed decorations for each year of celebration, known as the FGS Dong Zen Temple CNY Lantern & Floral Festival.

This year, the festivities period is from 29th January  - 16th February 2014. There will be a Lantern Exhibition, Flower Displays and Books Exhibition. The best time to visit this temple is to reach there at about 4-5pm. This way you will avoid the massive traffic jams and get to take daytime photographs of the garden. The night scene with lighted trees and lanterns is the main attraction now. Opening times are 10:30am - 10pm from 29 Jan - 16 Feb 2014. Admission is FREE.

For the itinerary and road map, you can visit their website here:
(Included are prayer/blessing ceremonies, Dharma talks, Dharma service, offering of lights, charity banquet, cultural shoes, costume parade, lantern painting, photography contest, outdoor sketches, and of course the opening and closing ceremonies). GPS Coordinates: N2 52.134 and E101 29.46

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Trees adorned with masses of pink cherry blossoms.

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All 12 animals zodiac signs are on display.

Here's the Mouse and Rabbit.

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Sunny Sun Sun.

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 The statues of the 18 Arhats line the walkway to the main temple.

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That's the grand Dragon in yellow Emperor robes and green Snake.

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A 'wishing tree' 

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Wishes and blessings for loved ones written on bits of paper hung onto the branches.

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Ox and Horse animal zodiazs

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A smiley Sun.

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Smiling pure white Buddha with outstretch, open arms to welcome the public.

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"Do not litter

Do not smoke

May Buddha bless you!"

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Lining this walkway are Lipstick palms and 'cherry blossom' trees

and Atap (a thatched roof made with dried leaves of the nipah palm tree).

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Elegant Willow trees 

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Hanging lanterns and pink petunias

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The signage at the entrance to "Lumbini Garden" decorated with bougainvilleas.

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A statue of Buddha meditating among lotus blooms.

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There are about 33 adorable śrāmanera (little novice monks) statues 

spread out on the garden grounds or hidden among the flower beds. 

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What's this?

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Join your palm, make a vow and strike the bell!

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May all your wishes come true!

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A scramanera standing on a lotus flower.

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Medicine Buddha

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Xuangzang and his white horse. In the epic of "Journey to the West", Xuangzang is a Tang Dynasty monk who went on a pilgrimage from China to India to bring back a copy of the the Diamond Sutera. The white horse is actually a dragon prince who had turned into a white horse for Xuangzang to ride on.

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Terrestrial orchids and bamboo trees.

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The bamboo bridge across the koi pond is decorated with colourful love shaped lanterns.

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Terrestrial orchids 

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Yellow orchid flowers

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A bright red statue of the horse.

The Year of the Wood Horse started on 31st January 2014 (Lunar Calendar)

and for fengshui practitioners and astrologers,  4th February 2014 (Solar Calendar)

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Cycads, Chinese witch hazel bushes and pine trees near the main entrance.

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The stone statue of Guan Yin among beautiful manicured bushes of ixora plants 

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FGS Temple was built in 1994.

It occupies an area of 16 acres in Jenjarom (new village)

Jenjarom is located about 55 km (1 hr drive) west of Kuala Lumpur city.

In 2008, Dong Zen Temple was presented with Buddha wall paintings from Dun Huang.

Their address:
FGS Dong Zen Temple
PT2297, Jalan Sg Buaya, 42600 Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-3191 1533, +603-7877 6533

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This year they have a ferris wheel and carousel

for the amusement of visiting family with kids and the young at heart.

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A mobile police station near the entrance to the temple.

A big crowd is expected every night.

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Trees decorated with Chinese lanterns.