The Three Steps One Bow ceremony has become, over time, to be an important Buddhist ritual conducted in Singapore as part of the Vesak Day festivities.  Together with puja chanting and bathing of the baby Prince Siddhartha, the Three Steps One Bow is commonly observed and practised by Buddhists as an expression of their faith and reaffirming their dedication to learning and practising Buddhism.

The ritual of taking three (can be more or less) steps and then bowing is an arduous practice when done over long periods of time or distance.  Devotees perform the ritual usually in a large congregation with a single scripture stanza or mantra being chanted repeatedly.  They are encouraged to be mindful of their actions and thoughts during the entire process and reflect deeply on their practices as a Buddhist.

During Vesak Day period, many temples and Buddhist organisations will organise the Three Steps One Bow ceremonies for their devotees. Due to the large numbers of participants, some temple grounds can be too small and the ceremony will be held at a nearby suitable location such as a park or a sport stadium.  Regardless of locations, the purpose and dedication are the same.

Probably the most well-known location for Three Steps One Bow ceremony is Kong Meng Shan Phor Kark See Monastery. Every year, on the eve of Vesak Day during evening just before dusk, the Monastery’s Venerables will commence the ceremony and lead their devotees to perform the ceremony around the temple grounds.  Depending on the individuals, the entire circuit will take about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete.

Read more about activities in the monastery in 2018:

[Devotees gather at monastery for peace and enlightenment to mark Vesak Day]

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Join us for the Vesak Day Eve Special Tour at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple!

Only available on 18 May 2019 (Saturday)

Log on to TripAdvisor for more information about the tour!

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