✨ Together in Aotearoa – Vesak 2025. On 24 May 2025, Buddhist communities from Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions came together with friends from other faiths and Tangata Whenua for a milestone celebration of Vesak in Aotearoa New Zealand. This inclusive and reverential event was held at Wat Dhammaprateep in Paparārangi (Newlands), Wellington on a fine autumn day that supported a calm, focused atmosphere as communities gathered together.
🔗 The day featured chanting ceremonies from all three yāna, thematic reflections, prayers of peace from each of the great faith streams, and a shared offering of food to the Sangha. Chanting from each tradition expressed shared values of aroha, compassion, and peace. This was an inclusive event with wide-ranging support. Among those attending were New Zealand Buddhist Council Executives, Tangata Whenua, leaders from temples across Aotearoa, the Ambassador of Thailand and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, senior officials from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and representatives from Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and Baha’i communities.
🌏Hosted by the New Zealand Buddhist Council with support from Wellington temples and generous volunteers, Together in Aotearoa was a heartfelt expression of spiritual friendship. Monastics from different lineages sat side by side in companionship, and the temple was filled with faith practitioners joining together in Vesak observances. There was a shared sense of calm and focus, carried throughout the prayer, chanting, and silence of all who had gathered. An online copy of the English printed programme is available here and the four keynotes speeches are available here.
After the formal celebrations people enjoyed excellent food and there were many joyful conversations, and then all undertook a peaceful Vesak circumambulation.
