The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion was almost at capacity on Saturday as Bendigo’s Jade Buddha was officially unveiled.
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The half-hour ceremonial event was is expected to be of the highlights of the Illumin8 festival, which concludes on Sunday evening.
Bendigo’s Jade Buddha for Universal Peace sat atop an altar in the stupa, surrounded by brightly-coloured flowers and decor.
The arched ceiling above had been painstakingly painted by a Tibetan artist for the occasion.
Performers serenaded the Jade Buddha, which had come home to Bendigo after almost a decade abroad.
Audience members also offered gifts encased in lotus flowers.
A procession of well-wishers trailed from the foot of the altar down to the rows of chairs.
Vantage points from which the statue could clearly be seen were highly sought after throughout the unveiling ceremony, as audience members sought to capture the moment on their smart phones.
Meanwhile, outside, people queued for a glimpse of the star attraction.
The Jade Buddha was crafted from what is claimed to the world’s largest discovered piece of gem-quality jade – an 18-tonne boulder called Polar Pride, from Canada.
It has toured 135 cities and 21 countries since 2009.
Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
