Āsāḷha Pūjā and Start of the Rains-Retreat 2026

We warmly invite everyone to Skiptvet Buddhist Monastery on Saturday, the 1st* of August, to celebrate Āsāḷha Pūjā, which marks the beginning of the rains-retreat (vassa).

The rains-retreat is a three-month period during which Buddhist monks and nuns stay put in the monastery or area where they chose to spend the vassa. It is often a time of increased practice and learning, as monastic communities remain stable during that period.

On this day, we will also chant the Buddha’s first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, delivered in Sarnath, near Varanasi, about 2,500 years ago. This first discourse set in motion the spreading of the Dhamma, the Buddha’s path to awakening and freedom from suffering, which continues to guide many practitioners to this day.

09:30 – All gather in the dāna sāla (main house)

10.15 – Parittas chanting and Rice Pindapat (alms-round)

11.00 – Meal offering, followed by a communal meal.