Dhamma Day 2025 | Invitation to Enter Vassa

"Dhamma Day" or "Dhammacakkappavattana Day" commemorates the Buddha's setting into motion the wheel of the Dhamma, teaching the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. Dhamma Day is also known as "Asalha Puja" in Thailand and similarly "Esala Poya" in Sri Lanka, "Asalha" and "Esala" being the local names of this Indic lunar month. "Poya" means the "Uposatha" Day, a special fortnightly day of Buddhist observance, and "Puja" means "to honor". 

The Buddhist monastic Bhikkhu & Bhikkhuni Sanghas formally enter the three months of the Vassa, the annual South Asian monsoon season retreat known as "the Rains" the day after the Dhamma Day Full Moon.  On this day, leaders of our lay community who wish to pledge the offering of the Kathina "Robe of Merit" to the Bhikkhuni Sangha upon completion of the Vassa will formally make their pledge to the gathered Bhikkhuni Sangha, and will formally invite them to "Enter the Vassa", pledging thei…