Report By Pandula Ranatunga & Pictures by Tissa Madawala

Attended by a large crowd of lay men and women of all ages representing many ethnicities, the London Buddhist Vihara held its Annual Kathina ceremony with all the usual pomp and ceremony that takes us back to ancient practices from the days of Buddha.  The Kathina ceremony symbolizes the profound relationship between the two halves of the Buddhist community: the Sangha and lay community and marks a time for the laity to express gratitude to the monks. This is a special event that takes place once in any particular year at the Vihara. The auspicious event began with the Kathina Robe being carried in a ceremonial procession through the temple premises to the beautifully decorated shrine room which includes the traditional Kapparukkha (Wishing Tree).

This year the Kathina offering was undertaken by Dr. Makalanda and her family, assisted by some of the friends and coordinators of the Vihara. After taking Refuges and the Five Precepts the robe was offered to the Sanga.. The Chief incumbent of London Buddhist Vihara Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala and the resident monks Ven.Thawalama Bandula, Ven.Konweva Ariyarathna and Ven.Susara flanked by  19 monks  representing other UK Viharas carried out the auspicious and ritualistic ceremony in the most colourful and dignified manner. Speaking to the gathering Ven. Seelawimala and Ven. Ariyarathna in their sermons spoke about the merits and the significance of the Kathina and also the discipline(Vinaya) that enforces with accepting the Kathina Robe. Ven.Bandula who conducted the ceremony thanked and passed merits to those who attended to the monks that observed the Rainy Retreat (Vassa) at the Vihara and seen to their requirements during the period season.

According to the Buddha's advice, the Kathina Robe must be offered to the whole Sangha, not to any particular individual, so that the bhikkhus have to formally agree which of them should receive the cloth; this time it was, received by the Head monk of the Vihara Ven.Bogoda Seelawimala. Ven.Seelawimala after accepting the auspicious robe said in a jovial manner that it’s been a long time since he had been the receiver of the Kathina Robe and had been eager to receive it and hence expressed his sheer joy of being the beneficiary of Kathin Robe on the 2600^th Year of Sambuddha Jayanthi. After the offering of the requisites the Sanga, the ceremony came to an end with the Paritta chanting followed by passing of merits to all those took part in this great meritorious act and plus those who helped the Vihara including the founder Anagarika Dharmapala. Many who attended this rare opportunity of practicing Dana (generosity) through providing useful requisites to the monks and to the Vihara in general were treated to an exposition of sacred relics (Sarvangna Dhathu).  The relics were given to the temple by the Makalanda family who said that it was a gift from a Thai friend of theirs to be given to the temple on this very auspicious day. Those who attended were treated to refreshments by the organisers of the event. 

SESATHA - The Sri Lankan Event Portal in UK