LAYTON -- Today and Sunday mark an important ceremony at the Wat Dhammagunaram Buddhist Temple, 644 E. 1000 North, in Layton.
The public is invited to participate today from 6 p.m. to midnight, with Loy Krathong music and dance, and Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. with a Kathin Robe Offering ceremony that begins with a sermon and offering of alms to the monks.
A lunch is planned for noon Sunday, followed by a procession around the outside of the temple and robe offering at 1 p.m.
"This is very, very traditional and authentic," said Roberta Chase, director of the board of trustees at the Layton Buddhist Temple, which is both Thai and Laotian.
"This is a very important celebration for all of the people, the members and everybody," she said. "We look forward to it every year. It's just very spiritual."
She said in addition to the religious significance is the opportunity for participants to experience cultural traditions.
"For people who are interested in the culture, it would be a wonderful opportunity to get an idea of how the cultures and ceremonies work at the temple," Chase said.
She said there will be colorful clothing, chanting, food and rituals that all will be exciting.
According to Buddhist texts, Buddhist monks, novices and nuns around the world observe an annual Rains Retreat from approximately July through October, during which monks may not leave their temples for more than a seven-day period.
The Kathin Ceremony marks the end of the Rains Retreat, also known as the Buddhist Lent period, and is a major celebration and a time of presentation of special new robes to the monks, according to information released by the temple.
Members invite the public to join them for this ancient ceremony, which supports and maintains the monks and the temple.
For more information, call Chase at 801-966-0639.
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