Annual Katina Pinkama begins at Gangaramaya Temple

The annual Katina Pinkama at the historic Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo, began last night with a Pirith chanting ceremony.

The pinkama is being held under the guidance and leadership of the temple's chief incumbent, Venerable Dr Kirinde Assaji Thera.

The Katina offering is a sacred Buddhist event in which devotees offer new robes to monks who have completed the Vas rainy-season retreat. It is customarily held with special reverence at most temples across Sri Lanka during this period.

The annual Katina Pinkama at Gangaramaya, one of Colombo's oldest and most developed Buddhist temples, draws large crowds of devotees and holds an important place in the city's religious and cultural life. The temple, situated near Beira Lake, has a tradition spanning hundreds of years. Devotees visit the temple during these days to take part in the pujas and gain merit. The temple administration has warmly invited all devotees to participate in the sacred event and receive its blessings.