Athula Dassana International Buddhist temple held its one year anniversary celebrations successfully at the temple premises on Saturday 7th July 2012. This day was special as devotees and other members of the community could remember the past events of the year organised by this temple under the guidance of the head of the temple Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero.
On that day Mr. H. M. K. Herath who was the Head of the Educational and Cultural Division in Sri Lankan High Commission carrying the honor of reliquary (Dhathu Karaduwa) in to the temple. A pirith chanting was held in the afternoon in a beautiful pavilion (mandapa) at the temple. Eight Venerable monks attended the chanting ceremony, Venerable Naranvita Soratha Nayaka Thero, the chief incumbent of the Gampola Naranvita Purana Viharaya, venerable Abagasduwe Gnanavimala Thero, the chief incumbent of Valimada abagasduwa Sri Visudharamaya and venerable Kalatuwawe Pangnasara Nayaka Thero the chief incumbent of Dhathukanda Purana Viharaya, Venarable Dediyawala Vimala Thero head of Letchworth Buddhist Vihara, Venarable Teldeniye Amitha Thero head of Leicester Buddhist Vihara, Venarable Bambarakotuwe Ananda Mangala Thero and Venerable Suriyawawa Kusala Thero also participated in this ceremony. More than 250 devotees participated in the event with great devotion and took part in the ceremony until it finished.
The temple opened on the 7th July 2011 and the temple has held a number of various religious, cultural and social services within this first year. The temple held its first Katina Ceremony in October 2011 after the event full Vassana retreat. Athula Dassana Buddhist temple celebrates every full moon poya day, devotees get together to observe the eight precepts and participate in other religious activities.
On the 1st of January 2012, people came to the temple carrying milk rice (kiri ahara) early in the morning and offered the Buddha Puja and the alms to the Mahasanga. On that day the temple organised a Nawa Arahadi Buduguna Puja and on January 2012, a pirith chanting was organised to invoke blessing to the devotees in the New Year.
On the 4th of February the temple celebrated Sri Lankan Independence Day; Dr Sunil Kariyawasam gave a speech. The temple were organised celebrate the New Year Rituals for specially introduce the Sri Lankan culture to the children who were living in the London. A Dhamma school for children began on the March 2012, currently there are more than 20 children studying both Buddhism and Sinhala. The Sri Lankan New Year celebrations for children were held on the 22nd of April 2012, where the rituals and traditional games were undertaken giving priority to the children who had little knowledge of our traditions.
The temple celebrated Vesak day on the May where they undertook many religious activities. In preparation for this day, devotees made a large Vesak Lantern which was surrounded by 60 small lanterns. A month of June a Poson poya sil programme was held; people observed the eight precepts and spent the day in the temple dedicating their lives to the triple gems. Free foods (Dansela) were given on the same day, where we also gave blessings to her majesty the queen on her Diamond Jubilee. In preparation for this special day a 15ft high replica of the Mihintala in Sri Lanka was built.
The Athula Dassana Buddhist temple has part taken in various religious activities in the past year; this has enabled the temple to become established. Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero is very grateful and gives his blessings to all the devotees who have supported him to make the temple successful.
