Buu Mon Temple Lotus Festival

The canopy oftrees filters sunlight tocreate stars on the surface of a lotus pond atthe Buu Mon Buddhist Temple in Port Arthur. The temple will host its 12th Annual Lotus Festival, June 5-6.

Photo by Andy Coughlan

LOTUS FESTiVAL

BUU MON TEMPLETOUNVEIL GARDENRENOVATIONS JUNE 5-6

THE BUU MON BUDDHIST TEMPLE will host the 12th Annual Lotus and Bamboo Festival June 5-6 from 9:30a.m. to 5 p.m., on their grounds at 2701 Procter Street in Port Arthur.

Thetheme of the fesival is “Come Be A Part Of The Newly Emerging Gardens.”

“Buu Mon Buddhist Temple is looking forward toanother fun-filled weekend in the gardens,” spokesman Danny Dubuisson said. “We are once again pleased to have the Texas Bamboo Society participating and sharing their knowledge of bamboo and its culture.”

Bamboo crafts will be available from Carole Meckes of Austin.

“Carole’s bamboo arts and crafts have been a great hit with previous festival shoppers,” Dubuisson said. “We are looking forward to vendors from the Texas Bamboo Society selling bamboo plants as they have at past Lotus and Bamboo Festivals. The Texas Bamboo Society and others will be available to assist the visitors with questions they may have about our gardens.”

Saturday and Sunday there will be walking tours of the gardens and the temple. It is an opportunity to learn the history of the gardens and Buu Mon Buddhist Temple as well as Buddhism in general, Dubuisson said.

The gardens as well as the temple have undergone major remodeling and landscaping in the past year.

“The gardens have been especially hit hard by thispast winter’s freezes so we have taken the opportunity to initiate a landscaping project we had planned to address at a later date,” Dubuisson said. “The gardens are airier and allow for a more contemplative experience. We are hoping to complete our projects by festival time. If you joined us last year you will see a dramatic change in the garden environment this year. We have all the confidence you willenjoy the gardens and their new look. This year’s visitors will be the first to see and experience this new environment.”

Bhante Kassapa, assistant abbot, will discuss tea andits preparation. The Buu Mon Meditation Group willsponsor a food booth, as well as an arts and crafts booth. Visitors will be able to enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine prepared by the temple’s parishioners, and purchase a variety of items such as Tshirts, jewelry, and refreshments from the Buu Mon Youth Group, Lotus Dance Troupe and the Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe.

Dubuisson said that highlights of this year’s festival include a performance by the Lotus Dance Troupe and the Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe, who will close the weekend festivities with performances starting at 4 p.m. on June 6.

There will also be performances by “Sonny the Birdman.” Sonny Carlin and his trained macaws will perform both days. Performance times were not available at press time.

In addition to the performances, there will be a variety of vendors both days of the festival with an assortment of arts and crafts, Dubuisson said. Regional artists will have booths selling their artistic endeavors. In addition, various non-profit organizations will be on hand to share information concerning their organizations and the services they provide thecommunity.

There are four gardens surrounding the temple which is home to a large variety of lotus and hardy and tropical water lilies, as well as various types of bamboo. Some of the bamboo is able to reach heights of 60 feet. Bhante Kassapa will display his