Buddha’s Day & Multicultural Festival 2025
When: Friday 2 – Sunday 4 May 2025
Where: Golden Square, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Victoria’s most heartwarming celebration of diversity, spirituality, and community returns this May! The Buddha’s Day & Multicultural Festival is back for an unforgettable 3-day experience in the heart of Melbourne, blending vibrant cultures, art, music, mindfulness and unity — all for free and open to everyone.
From Friday evening through the weekend, Golden Square will transform into a radiant hub of harmony, hosted by Fo Guang Shan Melbourne and Buddha’s Light International Association of Victoria (BLIA VIC). Expect traditional Buddhist ceremonies, lively multicultural performances, and a truly awe-inspiring five-storey digital mural that lights up the night sky .
Festival Highlights
- ✨ Light It Up Opening Ceremony – Friday 2 May at 6:30 PM. Featuring dignitaries, cultural performances by the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne, and the animated lighting of the incredible Bodhi Tree mural.
- ‘The Light’ Digital Animation – Watch the five-storey Bodhi Tree mural come alive with stunning visuals narrating the story of the Buddha on Friday and Saturday nights.
- ️ Guided Buddhist Meditation – Practice stillness through Ch’an meditation, Ba Duan Jin, and Tai Chi — mindfulness in motion.
- Tea Ceremony – Slow down and reconnect in serene, traditional tea sessions.
- Mindfulness Forest – Step into a calm, colour-filled space of creativity and peace.
- Bathing the Buddha – A traditional ritual to cleanse the mind and open the heart.
- Baby Blessing Ceremony – Blessings from the Venerables of Fo Guang Shan for your little ones. Register here.
- Multicultural Performances – Song, dance and workshops from communities across Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Macedonian, African, and Scottish traditions.
- Children’s Wonderland – Puppet shows, face painting, crafts and storytelling designed just for young hearts.
- Lumbini Garden – A floral tribute replicating the birthplace of Buddha, filled with giant lotus sculptures and peaceful vibes.
️ Festival Dates & Times
- Friday 2 May: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday 3 May: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday 4 May: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Stay Connected
www.buddhaday.org.au
Instagram: @bdmf.melb
Facebook: Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival
✉️ Email: secretary@bliav.org.au
About the Organisers
Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA VIC) is a volunteer-led community dedicated to compassion, service and multicultural harmony. With over 600 active members in Melbourne, they foster interfaith dialogue and promote Humanistic Buddhist values of joy, kindness, and peace.
Fo Guang Shan (FGS), the world’s largest Humanistic Buddhist organisation, was founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and has more than 300 branches globally. In Australia, they run temples, educational institutions, and community programs supporting peace, education, gender equality and sustainability.
All are welcome. All are included. All are celebrated. ️
