YUM CHA
Yum Cha on the third Sunday of every month. 20th April 2008, 18th May 2008, 15th June 2008, 20th July 2008, 17th August 2008, 21st September, 19th October 2008, 16th November and 21st December 2008.
Due to Chinese New Year and Easter commitments Yum Cha will not be held during February and March, 2008.
Sittings 11am and 1pm / Bookings essential / Ph 54415044
For more information call the Museum on 5441 5044 or pick up an information sheet regarding Yum Cha at the Golden Dragon Museum.
School Holiday Program Autumn 2008
Chinese Dragon Puppets: Chinese dragons have paraded in Bendigo since the 1880's. They are the symbol of good luck and prosperity. Join the fun, creating your very own Chinese dragon puppet.
After creating your Dragon puppet you can have your photo taken in front of a Southern Lion - the protector of the Dragon. Parents don't forget to bring your camera.
Workshop times: 10am and 3pm
Dates: Tues 25th March, Wed 26th March, Thurs 27th March,
Fri 28th March, Mon 31st March, Tues 1st April, Wed 2nd April, Thurs 3rd April, Fri 4th April.
Weekdays only. No workshops are run on the weekends.
Cost: $8 per child
Age group: 5- 12 years. Children under 7 must be accompanied by a parent.
Bookings Essential.
EASTER 2008
The Creation of a Sand Mandala
Date: Thursday 20th March - Tuesday 25th March, 2008
Where: Kuan Yum Temple, Farmers Lane Bendigo. Near the Golden Dragon Museum's Classical Chinese Gardens, 5-11 Bridge St, Bendigo
Time: 9am - 5pm daily
Cost:Free
A Sand Mandala is a Tibetan Buddish tradition which symbolises the transitory nature of things. As part of the Buddist canon, all things material are seen as impermanent.
A sand mandal is an example of this, meaning that once it has been built and its accompanying ceremonies and viewing are completed it is then systematically.
The destruction of a sand mandala is highly ceremonial. The deity syllables are removed in a specific order, along with the rest of the geometry until at last the mandala has been dismantled.
The sand is then collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a Lake (or any place with moving water). Our sand Mandala will be taken to Lake Weeroona where it is released back into nature giving blessings to all that use the water. For this reason, the materials in a sand mandala are always biodegradable and in keeping with the symbolism are never used twice.
The Drati Monks will arrive on Thursday 20th March, starting the Medicine Buddha Mandala and it will be deconstructed on Tuesday 25th March.
For further information regarding the Drati Monks please call Venerable Tenzin on 5444 0423 until the end of March or on 0432 841 400.
A donation can be made to the Drati Monks at the Kuan Yum Temple who are building a new prayer hall and accommodation centre at Sera Je Monastery in India
Kuan Yum/ Quan Yin's Birthday
Date: Easter Saturday 22nd March, 2008
Where: Kuan Yum Temple, Farmers Lane Bendigo, Near the Golden Dragon Museum's Classical Chinese Gardens, 5-11 Bridge St, Bendigo
Time:1pm
Cost: Free
Kuan Yum or Quan Yin celebrates her birthday on the 19th March, and is celebrated in Bendigo and throughout Asia, particularly in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and China.
The Golden Dragon Museum will be celebrating Quan Yin’s birthday on Saturday the 22nd of March at 1pm.
1.00pm- Drati Monks from the Sera Je Monastery in India will perform an offering ceremony to Kuan Yum as part of her birthday celebrations
1:15pm-The Ribbon Dance by the Bendigo Chinese Association Plum Blossom
1:30pm-Southern Lion by the Bendigo Chinese Association Lion team
1:45pm-The Drum Dance by the Bendigo Chinese Association Plum Blossom
2:00pm-Peking Lion by the Bendigo Chinese Association Lion team
Throughout the day, the Drati Monks will be conducting meditation and chanting in the temple. The theme of the Drati Monks is peace. ‘ Inner peace, world peace’, mediations will relate to physical, mental and spiritual health. With good health we have more time and energy to develop inner peace.
The Chinese Spring Festival
Date: Easter Sunday 23rd March, 2008
Where: Classical Chinese Gardens at the Golden Dragon Museum, 5-11 Bridge Street, Bendigo
Time:10am - 12 noon
Cost: Entry by gold coin donation
The Golden Dragon Museum is proud to present the Chinese Spring Festival inside the Classical Chinese Gardens. Experience this unique cultural event over three hours and be entertained by 17 authentic performances. The traditional Kung Fu dance movements combining power and strength are used to perform tales of love, romance, strength and power.
Also, performing are the Chung Wah Society Lion Team from Darwin, Pulse Performing Group, Roz Advent Dancer and the Bendigo Chinese Association Dancing Team, Plum Blossom. Inside the garden walls you can view Chinese calligraphers and have your Chinese fortune told.
Bendigo Chinese Association Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony
Proudly Supported by the Bendigo Bank
Date:Easter Sunday 23rd March, 2008
Where: Mcrae Street Carpark, Bendigo opposite BRIT
Time:2pm - 4pm
Cost: Free
The Awakening of the Dragon is unique to Bendigo and started in 1892. Today's ceremony is performed to awaken Sun Loong before he parades in the streets on Easter Monday and it is also used to raise money for 'Bendigo Health'.
The ceremony includes performances by the Bendigo Chinese Association (BCA), Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne (CYSM), Hung Gar Yau Shu (HGYS) and Chung Wah Society Darwin (CWSD). A lot of noise is required to awaken Sun Loong and over 100,000 crackers are lit to awaken the dragon during the closing ceremony.
Torchlight Procession
Date:Easter Sunday 23rd March, 2008
Where: Begins Pall Mall to Lake Weroona
Time:7pm - 9pm
Cost: Free
Bendigo Easter Festival Gala Parade
Date: Easter Monday 24th March, 2008
Where: Bendigo CBD
Time: 12 noon
Cost: Free
Chun Loong Celebrations
Date: Easter Monday 26th March, 2008
Where: Golden Dragon Museum, 5-11 Bridge St, Bendigo
Time: After the Bendigo Easter Festival Gala Parade
Cost: Free
On Easter Monday, after Sun Loong has paraded in the Bendigo streets, he returns back to his resting place. Tiered seating is provided outside the Golden Dragon Museum for people to view this amazing event when Sun Loong and his regalia return.
Sun Loong enters backwards, through the big red doors to his permanent home, while Southern Lions perform outside protecting and paying respect to him. The lion teams include - Bendigo Chinese Association (BCA) Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne (CYSM), Hung Gar Yau Shu (HGYS) and Chung WAH Society Darwin (CWSD).
The finale is the loud noise of many strings of 10,000 crackers, ending the Bendigo Chinese Association and Golden Dragon Museum's Easter celebrations in 2008.
Autumn Harvest Moon Festival
Date: Sunday 14th September
Where: Museum Forecourt, 5-11 Bridge Street, Bendigo
Time: TBC
Cost: Free
The Harvest Moon Festival is a special celebration for the Chinese and other Asian cultures around the world. All over Asia communities celebrate the harvest together at the time when the moon is biggest and brightest. It is a time of thanksgiving for the food which has been produced, future prosperity, health, families and friends.
Enjoy performances from Bendigo Chinese Association Lion, Dragon and Plum Blossom Girls Dance Teams, Asian Artists and local community groups. There will be Asian food and childrens activities.
Watch this space for up and comming events...
* Introduction to Chinese language (Mandarin) for business people
For more information about these events contact the Golden Dragon Museum 03 5441 5044
Details in this brochure are correct at the time of publication. The Management reserves the right to withdraw or alter parts or all of the program should unforeseen circumstances arise.