Kathina Ceremony 2011

Annual Katina Ceremony of Scotland Buddhist Vihara

Anthony Philip Narloch

Pictures by Malitha Yatiwelle

The Katina ceremony, hosted in Partick Burgh Hall on Saturday, the 21st October was a tremendous success and was supported in a truly exemplary manner by both Sri Lankan and Scottish Buddhist devotees.
The Katina ceremony is a very significant event in the religious calendar of the Buddhist, providing an ideal opportunity for the monks to be venerated for their hard work and commitment to the community.

The success of the event was matched only by the excellent calibre of the participants, including such luminaries as:
Venerable Malewana Punnaratara Nayaka Thero; the Chief Monk of the Western Province of Sri Lanka in addition to being the Head Monk of Sri Dharmapala Pirivena.
Venerable Sapugoda Chandananda Thero; the Head Monk of Pussala Purana Viharaya, Matara, Sri Lanka
Venerable Dodamgoda Sarananda Thero;the Head Monk of Jinendraramaya,Kadawatha,Sri Lanka
Venerable Makure Mangala Thero; the Head Monk and the President of East London Buddhist Cultural Center, London.

Dhammika Sirpala extended his thanks to the people who attended and even more so to those who actually helped make the day as high a success as it was. Dhammika also highlighted the essential nature of ensuring that devotees and the wider community actually provide the Vihara with financial support. At present, the Vihara is only paying off the interest owed on the mortgage. If you are interested in making a standing order, you may acquire one from the Vihara.

Bhante Rewatha Thero was the monk fortunate enough to receive the Katina robe, he passes his personal thanks to all of the devotees for their support on this very special day.

Please see this link for the event photos.

Lankadeepa News

Kathina Ceremony at Jethavana Vihara, Paris

Kathina Ceremony at Jethavana Buddhist Vihara, Paris

The annual Kathin Ceremony hosted within the Jethavana Buddhist Vihara was a remarkable success, enriched by both the quality of its participants (including ambassadors of the Thervada tradition from across the globe) and the obvious Saddha and diligence that the devotees had invested in the success of the Ceremony.

The ceremony was organised by the devotees of the Jethavana Buddhist Vihara, under the watchful eye and guidance of the most venerable Murungagasyaye Gnanissara Thero, the Judicial Chief Monk for France. The Kathina ceremony was conducted and completed in accordance with the Theravada tradition, as influenced by the Cambodian and Vietnamese traditions.

It was a new experience for some of the monks who had flew all the way from Sri Lanka to be part of this ceremony. Among the monks who conducted this special Buddhist rite are:


• The Most Venerable Anada Thero Head Monk of Paris Buddhist Vihara
The Most Venerable Chandarathana Thero Chief Monk of France
The Most Venerable Kamurala Rewatha Thero Chief Monk of Great Britain

Monks who attended from Sri Lanka:

• The Most Venerable Nedagamuwe Vijayamaithree Thero
• The Most Venerable Mapalagama Buddhasiri Thero
• The Most Venerable Bopitiye Vijitha Thero
• The Most Venerable Borelle Kovida Thero
• The Most Venerable Manampita Amitha Thero
• The Venerable Mirisavetiye Gnanarathana Thero
The venerable Mapalagama Jinananda Thero
The venerable Talangalle Sumangala Thero

Among the lay devotees:

Mr Dharmasri Thilakawardana Editor of Lakabima also participated in the ceremony.

For more pictures by William Tan please see this link.

Invitation to the Kathina Ceremony 2011

The devotees of the Scotland Buddhist Vihara cordially invite you all to attend the Kathina Ceremony. The details of the Ceremony are as follows:

Date:
Saturday, the 22nd October 2011

Venue:
Partick Burgh Halls, Lesser Hall, No 09 Burgh Hall Street, G11 5LN

• 10:30am-11am: arrival with procession

• 11am-11:30am: Buddha Puja (offering to the Buddha)

• 11:30am-12:30pm: Dana (offering food to the monks)

• 12:30pm– 1pm: Offering Kathina robe to the monks and blessings by ten monks who have arrived from Sri Lanka. Ceremony will be in English/Sinhala.

• 1pm-2pm: Lunch for laypeople

• 2pm-3pm: Offering Kathina robe to the monks and the sermon of the significance of offering Kathina ceremony in Sinhala.

• 3pm: End of Kathina Ceremony

Please be advised that if you are unable to attend for the morning events, you are more than welcome to attend for the lunch.

The organising committee would be most appreciative if you do intend to attend, that you arrive at around 10AM. This is to ensure that the event proceeds smoothly.

In the interests of ensuring that the event goes according to plan, please inform the Scotland Buddhist Vihara as to:

1. If you are able to attend
2. How many will be in your group
3. If you have any dietary or health restrictions

Children are most welcome. Photography is permitted, and actively welcomed.

With metta,

Scotland Budhist Vihara

(The Kathina Ceremony is a significant event within any Theravada Buddhist calendar. After the successful completion of three months retreat, the devotees offer a special robe to the monk who fulfilled the requirement of three months retreat. This can be performed only if the monk was able to complete his three months retreat, and being more mindful of the requirements according to the Vinaya.

The Kathina ceremony is also a community event and family day; providing devotees and special friends of the Vihara a golden opportunity to meet and greet one another as friends and companions.

This year we are fortunate enough to have some very distinguished and highly respected guests in our midst: including some of the most senior monks from Sri Lanka.)