Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

To celebrate the 2554th birthday of Siddartha Gautama, the local Buddhist community organized a joint ritual and prayer session to commemorate the important occasion on April 8. Mayor Hau Lung-bin attended the event and greeted Buddhist leaders and elders from across the city.
During his speech, Mayor Hau noted that the ceremony is a show of respect to the Buddha and helps to purify the heart and soul of the public, spreading the virtue of righteousness in our society.
Hau noted that according to legend, water from nine dragons poured down from the heavens to mark the birth of the baby Buddha. This story laid the foundation for the ritual of washing the statue of the Buddha in water to celebrate his birthday.
Referring to the saying of “the Buddha is in my heart,” Hau expressed his hope that everyone will be able to follow the path of righteousness and show their compassion to others, caring for all those who live on this planet.
He noted that on behalf of the residents of Taipei, he would like to wish the Buddha a happy birthday and hope that the Buddha will give his blessings to the people of this country.