Lunar New Year is an ancient annual festival for Thai, Burmese, Sri Lankan, Laotian, Cambodian, Nepalese and Indian people. On this occasion, which falls on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of April, various cultural and religious celebrations are held to mark the New Year. For the Buddhist, this is also the time to make merits in dedication to their departed relatives and to ask for forgiveness and blessing from their parents, grandparents, teachers and elders.
To celebrate the occasion this year, the Oxford Buddha Vihara will be holding a merit-making and blessing ceremony for the Buddhist community at Tingewick Hall.
We would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you, together with your family and friends, to join us in starting off the New Year with merits and blessings. Food for the monks will be contributed, which will subsequently be shared among the devotees.
Venue: Tingewick Hall, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU
Date: Sunday, 16th April 2023
Programme:
10:00 Arrival at Tingewick Hall
10:30 Chanting 30 Parami and Buddha Puja
11:00 Monks going for alms-round and partaking their meal
11:20 Lunch for the laity
13:00 Starting afternoon session by lighting candles; paying homage to the Triple Gem and observing the Five Precepts
* Chanting by the Monks to bless the New Year
* Dhamma talk by Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami (online)
* Offering robes and other requisites in memory of the departed relatives
* Sharing merit
* Bathing Rite for the Buddha statue, the Monks and the elders
14:45 End of the Programme
The Sangha, Trustees and Devotees
Oxford Buddha Vihara
