Continued from Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 Concert Quebec Dancers
This year celebration marked Wat Lao Buddhavong 30 Year Anniversary. The Wat has not always been at this location, and as time passed, they have grown and the main ceremonial building of the temple, The Sala Hong Tham (Dharma hall), was dedicated on July 3, 1993.
There were many Buddhist worshipers attending the morning Alms giving, this one was on Saturday, I offered Alms both Saturday and Sunday morning.
The line to offer Alms, it’s nice to see fellow Buddhists still taking off their shoes to give Alms.
I Busa (donate money to barter for Alms offering material) my bowl for Alms giving, it was $5, and for those that live near, they can bring their own from home, but as for us, it’s not convenient to do so.
The ceremony of Songk Nom Phra (sprinkle water for blessing).
The event was covered by Lao Power TV, you can watch the first video here which has the ceremony, and second video here which has the concert.
Phra Acharn Maha Bounmy Kittithammavanno is the abbot of Wat Lao Buddhavong.
A memorial service was held on Sunday afternoon in memory of the founders that passed away.
Another ceremony that is new to me and this was prepared by mostly the Thai Buddhist worshipers on Friday evening, there were desserts prepared for offering to Nang fhar and Tavarda (Angels) on Saturday morning at 5 Am, I took the pictures on Friday evening knowing that I couldn’t make it to the Saturday before sunrise ceremony.
Monks at the Wat Lao Buddhavong follow the Theravada Tradition of Buddhism but they have welcomed all Buddhists to the temple.
Continued at Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 Water Lilies in July
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July 8, 2009 at 3:10 am
Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 Concert Quebec Dancers « Nye Noona
[...] at Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 the 30 Year Anniversary Celebration Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2008 Concert Part V [...]
July 9, 2009 at 12:35 am
Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 Water Lilies in July « Nye Noona
[...] July 9, 2009 in Fish Pond | Tags: Lily Pond, Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th 2009, Wat Lao Buddhavong of Catlett VA, Water Lily Continued from Wat Lao Buddhavong July 4th, 2009 the 30 Year Anniversary Celebration [...]
July 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm
mozemoua
wow!! I would love to had been there!! It would had been great for my photography and for experience!!! It’s nice to see new things and tradition (that is different from mine) and what not! thanks for sharing!
July 11, 2009 at 6:19 am
Nye
mozemoua, Boun event is great for photo shooting, although I didn’t have much freedom this year, Lee (my daughter) was clinking to me the whole time and she didn’t like for me to take pictures, then I had migraine headache on top of it and missed the afternoon concert, maybe better time next year.
July 11, 2009 at 3:44 am
Lila
Hi Nye,
Thanks for sharing your trip to Buddhist Wat in VA with us. Looks like a fun event.
I wonder if those dessert plates are the same one I used to help my mom put together. I remember putting all types of food together and then wrap them in banana leaves. We made lots of them too!
Then early in the morning (before sunrise) my parents would leave it out in the garden for good spirits. This was done around autumn, so maybe that was a whole different Buddhist occasion all together.
July 11, 2009 at 6:34 am
Nye
Hi Lila, you are welcome. What you’re referring to is Boun Haw Khao Padap Din (full moon) takes place in August, which is a sombre festival in which the living pay respect to the dead. Many cremations take place, bones being exhumed for the purpose during this time, and gifts are presented to the Sangha so that monks will chant on behalf of the deceased. The one at Wat Lao Buddhavong is for the Angels only and I’ve never heard of this before, I think it must be the Thai tradition because the group of people preparing this were Thais.