Selangor's only Thai Buddhist temple, Wat Chetawan

Free Malaysia Today

Officiated in 1957 by the former king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, this temple is a popular destination every Wesak Day.  📍Wat Chetawan No.24, Jalan Pantai 9/7, Seksyen 10  46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor  Written and presented by: Theevya Ragu Shot by: Afizi Ismail & Andrea Edmonds Edited by: Kiera Amin  Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/05/12/welcome-to-wat-chetawan-selangors-only-thai-buddhist-temple  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTLifestyle #WesakDay #WatChetawan #Thai #Buddhist #Temple

Transcript

00:00Malaysia is home to at least 70 Thai Buddhist temples, most of which are located in Kelantan

00:25and Kedah, Selangor has just one.

00:35This is Wat Chetawan, the only temple in Malaysia inaugurated by the late King of Thailand.

00:43Established in 1957 and officiated by the late King Bhumipun Adunyade, the temple's main

00:49shrine hall built by skilled craftsmen from Thailand was completed in 1963.

00:55The Malaysian government gave land and donated some money and the Thai government built the

01:03temple.

01:04You see the main hall over there, the Buddha statue up there is offered by the Thai king,

01:13the previous one, Thai Ramanai.

01:15Weisat Day is one of the most important festivals for Buddhists around the world.

01:21At Wat Chetawan, a grand celebration is held with its unique traditions.

01:25Start from 6.30am in the morning, we start to do morning chanting and then some meditation.

01:34Afterward, we do the Thakbat on 11.00am.

01:40Thakbat is a offer the arm offering.

01:43Like you see here, we last to see like in Thailand, a lot of people bring the fruit, everything

01:49offered to the monk.

01:51At night, we celebrate around of the temple.

01:56On the evening of Weisat Day, a remarkable sight unfolds as thousands of devotees walk in procession

02:11around the outskirts of the temple, each with a joystick, candle and flower in hand.

02:17Given the large turnout, the devotees make their way around the temple's grounds, which spans

02:23more than two acres in remembrance of Buddha.

02:27Not even in Malaysia, Thailand is also the same.

02:31All devotees, like the Buddhism that come to the temple, actually they are around the main

02:37hall only.

02:38Or you see in the pagoda and around some Buddha statues, the deep end of the temple.

02:45Yeah, yeah, yeah.

02:46But only here?

02:47Only here walk around the temple.

02:48Outside the temple?

02:49Yes.

02:50All right.

02:51Devotees are surrounded by the temple's traditional Thai architecture, brought to life by esteemed

02:57national artists from Thailand, including many who are responsible for structures like the

03:02Grand Palace in Bangkok.

03:04The temple also embraces a blend of cultures, particularly Chinese influences seen in both

03:33its architecture and rituals.

03:36Actually, actually in Thailand or the site of Kedah or Kelantan, they only put the candle

03:42and just stick only.

03:44Here we make like the traditional Chinese, we like the oil lamp, they can last longer from

03:51the candle.

03:52Okay.

03:53Yes, yes, yes.

03:54So on website this will be full?

03:55Be full, be full.

03:56With the oil lamp?

03:57Yes, thousands, thousands of oil lamp here.

04:00Wow.

04:01The temple is fully funded by the generosity of its followers, ranging from small cash contributions

04:06to large structures, statues and shrines.

04:11Originally from Kedah, Prakru Siddhi Bodhivides has been a monk since he was 13.

04:17He says the teachings of Buddha are simply about doing good.

04:21Not even in the temple outside, you help people also.

04:26You smile also do good already.

04:27No need to pay anything money.

04:29Some people, there are certain people say, you might give money, it's do good.

04:33No.

04:34You smile.

04:35You're happy.

04:36This is a good thing already.

04:37Not paying money.

04:38You make another person happy, this is a good thing already.

04:42This positivity is especially felt on Waisat Day as Wat Chaitawan welcomes one and all to learn about their teachings.

04:50Yes, some of the tourists come to see how we celebrate God also.

04:55Sometimes God also or Muslim or Christian, they come just look.

05:00We all welcome.

05:02You can come to see what we celebrate, what we're teaching, right?

05:07I wish you all healthy, healthy and all the best.

05:12All the birthdays.

05:13Happy Waisat Day.

05:16Divya Raghu, FMT.

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