Buddhists Celebrate Independence Day in TN

July 4, 2004

Source: Tennessean

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/06/53722458.shtml?Element_ID=53722458

On July 4, 2004 Tennessean reported, "As the nation celebrates today's Independence Day holiday, members and leaders of the Wat Lao Buddharam temple [MURFREESBORO, TN] are holding a celebration of their own. It's the completion of the Sim, a sacred ordination hall vital to any Buddhist temple. But for many like Souk Wisithaphong of Nashville, this celebration is about more than just the completion of the Sim. It's about the preservation of culture and tradition... Beginning Friday... thousands of Buddhists gathered on the outskirts of town to pay tribute to their ancestors, ask for blessings for the next lifetime, teach the younger generation about the tradition and enjoy the music and food."