Annual Kathina Celebrations at Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara – 6th November 2016

The Kathina Ceremony is one of the biggest Buddhist festivals and is regarded as highly meritorious and significantly blissful. The Ceremony is held to mark the end of the annual three-month spiritual rainy retreat, observed by venerable monks residing at the Vihara.

This year’s Annual Kathina Ceremony of the Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara was held on the 5^th and 6^th November 2016. This was the 5^th consecutive Katina Ceremony of the Vihara.

The Vas Aradhana at the Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara was performed on the 19^th July 2016; the Nikini Full Moon Poya Day by Mr. Chanuka Samarakoon & Mrs. Anuradha Liyanage,  Mr Wanniarachchige Hemachandra & Mrs Kanthi Hemachandra , Mr. Jagath Gemunu and Mrs. Maheshi Kokila, Mr. Ishan Dimuthu Nilantha Jagoda & Mrs. Mekhala Warnasooriya, Mr. Sanjan Boruppa & Mrs. Menuri Boruppa, Mr. Thilak Dharmawardene & Mrs. Nirma Dharmawardene and Mr. Sumith Kuruppu  together with the other lay devotees of the Vihara.

The Kathina day commenced with the materials for the Kathina robe being brought to the Vihara by the Katina sponsors and other devotees of the temple before the sun rising in morning. The Kathina Robe was carried on their heads in a large colorful Kathina procession and offered to the monks by the devotees with deep devotion and all the participants. On the 6^th of November at 6am the Kathina robe was offered to Most Ven. Borelle Athula Thero and Ven. Wanduraba Kassapa Thero who explained the significance of offering a Kathina Robe.

The presence of 12 venerable Buddhist monks representing Viharas in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Sri Lanka was very unique. Among them were Most Ven. Borelle Athula Thero, Ven Wanduramba Kassapa Thero, Ven Shantha Sobhitha Thero - Shanthi Nikethana Meditation Centre in Loss Angeles, Ven Dedidyawala Vimala Thero - Letchworth Buddhist Vihara, Ven Homagama Kondanna thero- Moratuwa Kavidhaja Meditation Centre, Ven Kanthake Wimalawansa and Ven Kothmale Sumedha Thero -Thames Buddhist Vihara, Ven Mathugama Palitha Thero- Scottland Buddhist Vihara, Ven Madugalle Mahanama Thero - Upton Park Sambodhi Viharaya, Ven Panamure Thapassi Thero - Enfield Abhayaramaya, Ven Galayaye Dhamma Dassi Thero - Kingsbury Vihara and Ven Great Britain Kassapa Thero.

Among the highlights of this year’s Kathina ceremony was the Bakthi Geetha performance given by the children of the Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara Dhamma School and was highly commended by all attendees.

It was evident that everyone had appreciated the colourfully organised and highly attended (over 500 devotees) the very spiritual Kathina Ceremony. The Kathina sponsors were extremely grateful for the head of the Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero for his advice and guidance and everyone who helped in various ways to make this year's Kathina Ceremony a success and to all who participated in the Kathina Pooja.