We organize special entire-day programs on important days of the Buddhist and Sri Lankan calendar. The Vesak ceremony is held in May, the Poson ceremony in June and the Katina ceremony during the rainy season from July to October/ November.

Vesak ceremony
Buddhists all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing away (Parinibbana) of the Buddha on the full moon day of May. Traditionally this day is dedicated to learn Dhamma and practice through puja, dana, chanting pirith, meditation, dhamma talks and discussions. The temple is decorated with traditional lanterns and the day ends with “Bhakthi Geetha” by students of Dhamma school and members of the temple.

Poson celebration
Buddhists in Sri Lanka specially celebrate the full moon day of June to commemorate the arrival of arahath Mahinda and other monks who introduced Buddhism first to Sri Lanka around 251 BC. This day is also celebrated similar to Vesak day by learning and practicing Dhamma. The day ends with “Bhakthi Geetha” by students of Dhamma school and other devotees in an evening of a nice summer day in June.

Vass aradhana and Katina ceremony
After Vesak, Katina is the most important holiday in Buddhism. The word “Katina” means powerful or strong and expresses the force of the mutual responsibility and commitment that monks and lay people share in Buddhism, throughout the rainy period called “Vassana” of every year. This is a tradition kept from the days of Buddha.
During the monsoon period with heavy rains in India, small living creatures like worms and insects move to the surface of the ground in larger amounts than usual, which caused some concern among monks and lay people. They told the Buddha how sad it would be if these little creatures get trampled and killed when the monks were out walking. Buddha listened to them and proposed that the monks should stay in their temples during the rainy season called “Vassana” and the tradition is being followed by Buddhist monks to this day.

In the beginning of the rainy season lay people invite the monks to stay in their temple by special invitation known as “Vass aradhana”. The monks accept this invitation and refrain from travelling long distances and focus on their spiritual development and practicing on meditation. The lay people are responsible in providing food, medicine, and other needs of the monks throughout the rainy season, facilitating them to practice through the eight-fold path. This is the central theme of the Katina, showing the strong and close relationship between monks and lay people. Another important aspect of the ceremony is that lay people also get a remarkable opportunity to practice themselves and cultivate teachings of Buddha on Giving (dana), Loving Kindness (metta), Compassion (karuṇa) and earn merits “kusala”. At the end of the Vassana held the Katina ceremony when monks are offered dana, robes and other consumable gifts, so that lay people get further chance to practice their generosity through which they may earn more merits (kusala) and
blessings.

Sri Lankan new year and “Aashirwada puja”
Sri Lankans celebrate their New Year on 13-14 th April every year. The vihara also celebrate the new year with the members who organize it with traditional Sri Lankan foods and sweets. Resident monks bless all the members and community holding an Aashirwada puja and chanting seth-pirith in the evening.

“Rathnadeepa”
An annual cultural event for performance arts by Sri Lankan children including children of Dhamma school. The event is organized with the support of Sri Lankan community in Stockholm and Järfälla kommun.