Kathina, today, is celebrated as the largest alms giving festival of the Buddhist world. Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple 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 Temple (Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple) was performed on 12th July 2014, on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day by Dr. Nishani with staff of Estetica Dental, Mr. Seevali Liyadipita, Mrs. Iranganee Samarakoon, Mrs. Piyumika Jayasena and Mr. Chandraguptha together with the other lay devotees of the temple.
They invited Most Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero, chief Incumbent of the temple 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 August to Full Moon of November.
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. This year Kathina Ceremony takes place in HeathrowAthulaDassanaTemple on 02nd and 3rd of November 2014.
