Wat
Wat Khmer Palelai Monastery
Wat Khmer Palelai Monastery is a Cambodian Theravada Buddhist monastery on South 58th Street in the Kingsessing area of Southwest Philadelphia.[1][2] It is also known as Khmer Palilai Monastery, Wat Khmer Palelai, Wat Khmer Palilai and Khmer Palelai Buddhist Monastery.[3][4]
History
The community was founded in 1986 and first met in a row house in South Philadelphia.[5][2] Its head monk, Sam Sokhoeun, came to Philadelphia from Cambodia that year.[4] In 1987 the former Greenwich Street Church, at 240 Greenwich Street in Pennsport, became the Khmer Palelai Buddhist Temple, serving the Cambodian population of South Philadelphia.[6] A 2011 directory listed it there as Wat Khmer Palilai, with the telephone numbers (215) 339-5830 and (215) 339-5840.[7][8]
Sokhoeun moved to the 58th Street site in 2004 and kept building there for the immigrant community.[4] Sources differ on when work on the new temple began. Tricycle dates the start of work on the plot of about 22,100 square meters (238,000 square feet) to 2010. Hidden City reported in 2014 that building began in 2011, after the community had owned the land for a decade.[5][6] In 2013 a large new temple was planned for the grassy part of the grounds. Construction had not yet begun, as Sokhoeun was waiting for his lawyer and engineer to finish the plans, and he said more money had to be raised, perhaps through festivals.[4][1] Landmark Architectural Design drew up the designs.[6] After the new monastery opened, the community left its Pennsport property, which was cleared for two single-family homes.[6]
The temple rose slowly, paid for by small donations from the Cambodian community rather than a large bank loan. In 2017 Master Han-Hea, one of the resident monks, said close to $1.2 million had been spent on construction, and that the temple still needed decoration and much public support. At that time it was expected to be finished the next year if donations kept pace, and plans called for a school and a cremation center to follow.[1] The temple and monastery took nearly a decade to build.[5][2]
Architecture
The temple follows traditional Khmer architecture. It has a multi-tiered roof of curved tile with bright golden molding along the roofline. Figures of apsara (celestial dancers) sit atop the columns of the porch, and large naga (serpent) sculptures stand at the foot of the stairs. In 2017 decorative tiles were being set on the outer walls.[1]
The monks' residence stands near the entrance at 2701 South 58th Street, facing two covered stages used for large gatherings. A shrine building at the back of the property holds a golden Buddha image surrounded by flowers, flags, candles, incense, paintings and statues. The grounds include a large concrete area and a raised grassy area.[4] An unfenced rail line and the former U.S. Gypsum site lie to the east, with the Schuylkill River beyond. In 2013 Sokhoeun spoke of joining that land to Bartram's Garden as part of a connected park and trail network.[4]
Community
The monastery draws people of Cambodian and Vietnamese descent from across the region.[4] Master Han-Hea called it a public place for Cambodians and for people of any nationality who believe in Buddhism.[1] In 2013 Sokhoeun said the New Year celebration drew between 2,000 and 3,000 people.[4] The week-long Cambodian New Year festival of 2017 drew a crowd of hundreds, with food and gift vendors, bubble tea, traditional clothing, toys, music and dancing.[1]
Visiting
Visit Philadelphia lists the site as 2651 to 2701 South 58th Street.[9][5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Hidden City Philadelphia, Khmer Monastery In Kingsessing Enlightens The Schuylkill (2017)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wikipedia, Wat Khmer Palelai Monastery
- ↑ Temple News, 2558 Khmer Buddhist Temples Directory (2014)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Hidden City Philadelphia, A Place For Enlightenment In Southwest Philadelphia (2013)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Tricycle, The Buddhist Traveler in Philadelphia
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Hidden City Philadelphia, A New Year, A New Demolition In Pennsport (2014)
- ↑ Temple News, 2555 Khmer wats directory (2011)
- ↑ National Cambodian American Organization, Cambodian National Directory (2014)
- ↑ Visit Philadelphia, A Trail of Sacred Sites in Greater Philadelphia