Annual Kathina ceremony of Ketumati Buddhist Viahara Manchester(Oldham)

Last Sunday, the 26^th of October, Ketumati Buddhist Vihara ceremoniously held its 15^th annual Kathina ceremony under the guidance of most Ven Pidiwille Piyatissa Nayaka Thera, the head monk of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara, Manchester. Nine members of The Maha Sangha were present at the ceremony from different temples of the United Kingdom. These included the chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain for Ramanna Maha Nikaya Ven. Gunawansa Thero, the head monk of both Jethawana Buddhist Viharaya Birmingham and Sri Sambuddha Viaharaya Liverpool, Ven. Teldeniyaye Amittha Thero, the head monk of Santhi Buddhist Viharaya in Nottingham. Also present were Mapalagama Soratha Thero, Beragama Piyarathna Thero, and Tissapura Sugatharathana Thero from Birmingham Jethavana Viharaya. In addition, Ven.Maldeniye Chandaloka Thero, a visiting monk at Leicester Buddhist Vihara was also present. Ven.Galpottayaye Pemananda Thero and Pannala Sumana Thero of Kethumati Buddhist Vihara were also among the Maha Sangha.

The ceremony was well attended by the people living in Manchester and surrounding areas, such as Bolton, Preston, Burnley, Leeds, Liverpool, Stoke on Trent and even from Kendal. This year’s Kathina ceremony was largely organized by people from three Dhamma schools attached to the Ketumati Buddhist Vihara and all the members of Dayaka. The main sponsor of Kathina Ceremony, Dr.Nalini Gajaweera and Mr. Bandula Gajaweera was appreciated by Ven.monks concerning the support they have rendered towards the New Vihara project of Ketumat Vihara.

On this occasion Ven.Teldeniyaye Amitha Thero, gave a Dhamma talk on the significance of Kathina in Sinhala, and Tissapura Sugatharathana Thero in English. Six students  who completed the study at Ketumati Dahmma school and passed the final exam received their certificates from Ven.Pidiwille Piyatissa Nayaka thero the, Principal of three Dhamma schools in Manchester, Stoke- on –Trent and in Leeds.

The children who received their certificates were Maya Aysha Medagoda ,Prabhasha Omal Jayawardhana, Harini Ratnayake, Aynda Gamge,Anuksha Amarasena,

Inushi Ranaweera ,Nadeera Hettipathirannahelage.

Before the inauguration of Kathina Cheevara offering, a presentation about New Ketumati Temple project was done by Mr. Dimuth Jayawanna.

Photo Credit:Saman Sooriyabandara