Blessings for the New Year at London Buddhist Vihara

tmadawela | 02 Jan, 2018 10:33PM | Leave a comment
A large groups of devotees from Sri Lankan, British and many other communities living in Englandvisited the London Buddhist Vihara on 1st January 2018 to offer prayers and take part in various religious programmes.
From early in the morning Buddha Puja, Buddha Wandanaa, Dhana and Pirith Chanting were held to bless everyone who visited the Vihara and special arrangements were made to chant Seth Pirith during pre-arranged times of the day.
Head of the Vihara and the Chief Sanghanaayaka of Great Britain Most Ven. Bogoda Seelavimala Nayaka Thera and all the resident monks took part in these programmes. The mid day Dana for the Maha Sangha was offered by the Sri Lanka High Commission.

The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK , H.E. Ms. Chamari Wijewardene attended the Seth Pirith Chanting held in the afternoon.

Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thera in a Anusasana, gave a detailed account of services rendered by the Vihara during the past year. In his Anusasanaa he said "It was a great pleasure for everyone at the Vihara to extend their sincere greetings on the dawn of the New Year 2018. We wish that the New Year will be a very special one for everyone, filling each day with good health, happiness, prosperity and serenity."

Ven. Nayaka Thera further said that "the year 2017 was a very successful year for the London Buddhist Vihara. In addition to the annual programmes of festival programmes, the temple also supported some of the important charitable activities. In June 2017 when several Sri Lankan villages were affected by the devastating rain and flooding the temple arranged to donate items needed for school children in the Sabaragamuwa Educational Devision. Also the Vihara continued to host the the Annual Blood Donation programme for the 15th time and offered food and other essential items to the underprivileged people at the homeless centre in Acton. None of these achievements would have been possible without the active participation and continuous support of our dedicated co-ordinators, our conscientious Dayakas, the Vihara Management Committee and the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust in Colombo. I wish to express our sincere thanks and Punyanumodana to all for their valuable support. May the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem give you courage to achieve your expectations for your future well-being. Bhavathu Sabba Mangalam."

 

Photographs by Tissa Madawela