The Sangha is the community of practitioners who have left the householders' life to become monastics and devote themselves to the teachings of the Buddha.

We honor their life-long dedication to upholding and transmitting the teachings of our tradition to future generations, ensuring our practice never ends and our larger community always has the support and guidance we need in our daily lives.

The Sangha Day celebration begins with a special ceremony honoring the monastic community with cultural performances, blessings, and a communal meal. The service is followed by a festive parade of monastics through the temple compound giving the community an opportunity at large to make offerings and is reminiscent of the traditional begging for alms. You might even catch sight of some children monastics as well, walking in the footsteps of the Buddha!

This event is rooted in the rainy season retreat when monastics sheltered indoors for three months with intensive daily practice. At the end of the retreat, lay practitioners would make a special offering to the Sangha to honor their improved discipline. The act of making offerings to the Sangha is a common means to procure merits for dedication to deceased family members, aiding them in finding a better rebirth. As such, this day is often followed in the afternoon with a special multi-hour chanting service by the Sangha and is in dedication to all donors’ families, both living and beyond.