The Buddha day celebration which encompasses the birth, enlightenment and passing (parinirvana) of the Buddha was held on the 9th of May coinciding with the full moon day of the fourth lunar month.

The spectacular sight of a thousand over lighted LED candles flickering in the waving hands of devotees amid the chanting of Buddha’s name was the high light of the 2009 Bodhi-nite . The event in its 3rd consecutive year was held on 2nd May from 7.30pm to 10pm to commemorate the auspicious 2335 years of Buddha day which falls on the 9th of the following week. Jointly organized by Than Hsiang Temple and the Phor Tay Primary, secondary , independent school and their ex-students associations, the event also seek to raise funds for the various schools’ annual expenditures.

About 2500 Buddhist devotees from various Buddhist organizations thronged the funeral service of Venerable Bo Yuan to bid final farewell to one of the most respected and eminent Buddhist monk in recent year. The funeral service was attended by numerous foreign and local monastic and lay luminaries at the Lake Garden Buddhist center. The service began at 10.30 on the morning of 16th April , presided by Ven. Jing Liang, the president of China (Taiwan) Buddhist association and Ven.

Than Hsiang Wan Chin Yuen (WELFARE OLD FOLK HOME) celebrated its 15th anniversary on 26th April 2009 (Sunday) and a vegetarian fair was held from 9am till 3pm on the same day at the temple’s premi

The 2009 Qing Ming Dharma assembly was held on the 29 April from 1pm to 6pm.at the Than Hsiang Multi-purpose hall. Qing ming is the equivalence of the “all soul day “ of the West. The celebration of this festival is an indication of the importance of the filial piety –a virtue much treaured in the oriental society. Therefore, we always expect the huge crowd to thronge the temple every year to perform chanting and pay respect to their departed next of kins .

The Than Hsiang kalyanamitra home and the Than Hsiang Buddhist youth group jointly organized a eight precept cultivation on the 14th and 15th of March 2009 for both undergraduates and graduates from 18 to 45 year old to participate in the one day plus one night retreat. It is hope that the event will promote a better understanding of the significance of Buddhist precepts and grasping the right views of Buddhism.

Ven. Hui Ti became the new addition to the Than Hsiang monastic sangha family. The ordination ceremony was held on Sunday morning of march 15th 2009 at the Main Shrine hall, witnessed by closed relatives, friends and Than Hsiang devotees. The ordination was conducted by the abbot, Ven. Wei Wu and assisted by Ven. Zhen Ru and Ven. Zhen Xin. Hui Ti Fashi, previously knowned Chen Mei Fong is no stranger as she had a long association with Than Hsiang Temple as a staff as well as a volunteer.

Ven. Wei Wu, the abbot of Than Hsiang Temple urged the Metta Free clinic team to organize seminars or public talks on Chinese medical treatment with the aim of educating the public on the importance of taking preventive measures before one falls ill.

He said ,after having established itself for 21 years, the medical team comprised a group of well-experienced and dedicated practitioners engaging in consultation, prescriptions and disseminating medical knowledge and preventive measures via public health talks.

More than a thousand devotees and well-wishers thronged the newly opened Phor Tay High School hall for the celebration of New Spring festival organized by Than Hsiang Temple and several northern region Buddhist organizations. It was a scene of bustle and excitement.

Led by the abbot of Than Hsiang Temple, Ven. Wei Wu, all the participants clasped their hands and chant along for the blessing of all sentient beings, followed by the lamp lighting ceremony for peace and prosperity.

With the aim to upgrade the teaching skill of the Than Hsiang group of kindergarten teachers, Than Hsiang Kindergarten, Penang organized a two-day workshop on the 30th & 31st Dec. 2009.