Cambodian Community Festival - Part 2

From Asian Report 12 November 2013

Wellington’s Cambodian community are vibrant, thriving and celebrating a 15-day Theravada Buddhist festival commemorating loved ones who have passed on. Lynda attends several days of the festival, first at the heart of their community, the Wat Buddha Chaya Mahanath Monastery in Island Bay and then at Rongatai College Hall in Kilbirnie. She finds out why this festival, filled with delicious home cooked food, is fundamental to the on-going happiness and spiritual well-being of the living and the departed

Gallery: Cambodian Family Festival Part 2

A small image of Buddha receives prayers

Dame Fiona Kidman and husband Ian Kidman at the festival

Delicious traditional offerings

Donating money to charities in Cambodia

Donations go to landmine victims in Cambodia

Dr Hok Mao addresses audience

Dressing in your best

Family atmosphere

Five monks serving the Cambodian community - final day at Rongatai College Hall

Monks engage with their community

Mrs Lon So volunteers

Offerings of food made to the monks and the ancestors first

One family

Senior venerable burns the prayers and scriptures as offerings to the departed

The communal lunch

Sweets

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.