Ullambana Grand Puja

The Ullambana Festival is observed during the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar when the Sangha community completes their Vassa retreat. It is also known as Buddha's Joyful Day. This is an important festival for all Buddhists to recall the Buddha's teachings, practice filial piety, and help liberate sentient beings from suffering. BW Monastery organised a one-week long Ullambana Grand Puja to commemorate this Festival.

chanting of ullambana sutra

Enveloped in the Ullambana Festival's spirit, we're graced by the sight of venerables and devotees immersed in the recitation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sutra. They wholeheartedly recite the Sutra, repent, and humbly seek blessings with compassionate and filial hearts.

grand offering & mengshan food bestowal ritual

On the final day of our Grand Ullambana Puja, devotees completed all 3 sections of the Ksitigarbha Repentance, performed a Grand Offering, and conducted the Mengshan Food Bestowal Ritual. This comprehensive day aimed to amass vast merits for us, loved ones, and ancestors, facilitating better rebirths.

The Mengshan Food Bestowal focuses on aiding beings in hell and as hungry ghosts. Through food, water, dharma teachings, mantras, and rituals, it alleviates fears, offers comfort, and potentially clears karmic obstacles, aiding their transition from these realms.

Food offering

During these 7 days of the Ullambana Grand Puja, the Monastery makes vegetarian offering during breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily to pay respects to our ancestors and karmic debtors. The Monastery also performs the transcendental deliverance ritual and offerings to devotees' infant spirits. We dedicate the vast merits accumulated via these offerings to them, and pray for them to receive the Buddha's blessings.

light offering

By offering a 7-day candle on behalf of our ancestors during this auspicious period, may they gain the Buddha's blessings and attain vast wisdom in their rebirths 🙏