A place to worship,

a time to celebrate.

Buddhists gather to mark holiday

By Colin Burch

THE SUN NEWS February 24, 1997

BOLIVIA, N.C. – 

Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram, a Buddhist temple, is not the kind of place

you’d expect to see in the Bible Belt.

And the Buddhist holiday Magha Pucha is not the kind of holiday you’d expect to be celebrated in the area either, as church lawns begin to display Easter crosses.

But Wat Carolina, a Buddhist temple under construction outside of Bolivia, is bringing together a population of worshipers – most of whom are Asian American — who have yearned for a central location and fellowship.

Magha Pucha, a holiday to pay respect to the Lord Buddha, was celebrated at the temple site Sunday. About 65 people came together for the event and to spend time with others Buddhists.

 “We come from everywhere,” said Somsack Moukdarath, president of the temple, who traveled from Winston-Salem, N.C.

Construction began three years ago and, as, Moukdarath said, most Buddhists in the region had no temple to attend prior to its construction. 

Festivals and religious ceremonies are held in a library, which features two large golden statues of Buddha.

“I’m excited to see friends and [find out] what they’re doing,” said Tammy Ruster, who lives in Myrtle Beach. She moved from Bangkok, Thailand, 26 years ago.

“The best thing is that people can get together to chat,” Ruster said.

Ruster said her 3-year-old daughter, Antel, was “excited as she’s ever been” because she found another young

friend at the temple. They danced together as music played over loudspeakers.

Magha Pucha ceremonies were led by the abbot of Wat Carolina, Parakru Buddhamonpricha. Two monks, Phra Phounphone and Samaneny Berta Jr., sat to the left of the abbot as he led the

ceremonies.

Ceremonies included chanting, the presentation of lunch to the monks, a sermon and a time of meditation.

The temple also accepted a 100-year-old statue of a Thai Buddha. It was carried three times around the edge of the

floor of the uncompleted multipurpose room, which still has no roof, as part of the acceptance ceremony.

The abbot and the two monks led the procession around the room. Each person carried a candle and three sticks of incense. 

Moukdarath explained the reasons for encircling the room with the Buddha: once to honor Buddha, once to honor Buddha’s teachings and once to honor the abbot.

Later, the Buddha was taken outside and placed on a stand.

Ambitious plans have been drafted for Wat Carolina, which is located on Midway Road off U.S. Business 17, south of Bolivia. When completed, it will include a temple, a library, a multipurpose room and other structures.

Magha Pucha, an important festival for Buddhists, is celebrated on the full moon of the third lunar month each year.

According to Buddhist tradition, the holiday originated from an occasion upon which Buddha’s 1,250 disciples held an unannounced assembly to pay respect to Lord Buddha.