Vas Aradhana - Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara

Kathina, today, is celebrated as the largest alms giving festival of the Buddhist world. Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Vihara is currently taking part in a Vassa (rainy season). The season lasts for three month, at the end of this season there is a Katina festival.

The Vas Aradhana at Heathrow Vihara was performed on 19th July 2016, on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day by Mr. Thilak Dharmawardena & Family, Mr. Wanniarachchige Hemachandra & Family, Mr. Chanuka Samarakoon & Family, Mr.Sanjan Boruppa & Family, Mr.Sumith Kuruppu, Mr. Jagath Gemunu & Family, And Mr. Dimuthu Nilantha & family together with the other lay devotees of the temple.

They invited Most Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero ,chief Incumbent of the temple and Ven Gonulle Assaji Thero to reside in the temple during the rainy (Vassa) season and assured to provide the basic requisites during the three months from the Full Moon of July to Full Moon of October.

The rainy season in India start in July and continues for about three months. At the time of Buddha there were 62 religions in India and most of these religions practised non-violence to the extreme. During the rainy season when monks were going out for alms (Pindapatha), those people complained to Buddha that the monk were threading on the tender grass and worms and other small creatures in the mud, thus causing harm to them. The Buddha who respected other religions, advised the monks to spend the rainy retreat staying in one place, focusing on the advancement of spiritual development as well as for the benefit of the society.

At the end of the rainy season Kathina Ceremony is held by the lay devotees to express their gratitude to the Sanga by offering the Katina robe and other requisites.

We are organising very grand festival at the end of the observance of the Rains Retreat. Devotees offer food to the monks and prepare the special yellow robes that are offered to the Sangha.

On the day of the festival, before sun rising the morning, devotees’ is carrying out special yellow robes with special Perahera. After this, according to the advice of monks, devotees get together to make up the robe. The entire cutting and sewing has to be completed before the dawn of the same day. When the robe is completed, the formal Kathina offering ceremony takes place. On 5^th of November will be held on  “Atavisi Buddha pooja” and on 6^th of November will be held on “Katina Maha Ceromomy “ takes place in Heston Primary School, Heston, TW5 0RLon 05th and 6th of November 2016.