{"id":390510,"date":"2026-05-13T18:04:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/?p=390510"},"modified":"2026-05-13T22:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:53:40","slug":"thekchen-choling-vesak-day-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/read\/thekchen-choling-vesak-day-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"You Can Get Your Pet Blessed For Free At NEX This Vesak Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Joyous Vesak 2026 – <\/b>Thekchen Choling<\/b> Vesak Day festival\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
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May is set to end with a flurry of festivities, with both Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day happening in the last week of the month. From 25th to 31st May 2026<\/b>, Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/b> is celebrating its Silver Jubilee with the biggest edition of its Vesak festival to date.<\/p>\n

The week-long festival, Our Joyous Vesak<\/b>, will be packed with cultural showcases, wellness events, family-friendly activities, and Singapore\u2019s largest animal blessing ceremony – in case your furbaby needs a little divine TLC.<\/p>\n

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What is Our Joyous Vesak festival by Thekchen Choling Singapore?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Established in 2001, Thekchen Choling Singapore is a Tibetan Buddhist temple and registered charity organisation with the Ministry of Community, Culture, and Youth. Named after the monastery of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the temple aims to help its lay and ordained followers to reach their potential for happier and more fulfilling lives.<\/p>\n

\"thekchen<\/b>Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore via Facebook<\/i><\/p>\n

The temple has been serving the community for 25 years through initiatives like Love Connect, a market that distributes free fresh produce to low-income families in collaboration with Jalan Besar Citizens’ Consultative Committee.<\/p>\n

Each year, Thekchen Choling Singapore organises a Vesak festival to honour the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Shakyamuni Buddha. This year\u2019s edition, Our Joyous Vesak festival, also commemorates the monastery\u2019s longstanding history. Everyone is invited to join in the celebratory events, taking place from 25th to 31st May 2026 at the open field next to NEX.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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What to expect at Our Joyous Vesak festival?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Unveiling Southeast Asia\u2019s largest Shakyamuni Buddha thangka<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\"thekchen
\nImage credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

Kicking off the annual festivities with a bang, a 4-storey-tall Giant Wish-Fulfilling Shakyamuni Buddha thangka, or scroll painting, will be unveiled on 25th May 2026<\/b> at 7pm<\/b>. This is touted to be the largest Shakyamuni Buddha appliqu\u00e9 thangka in Southeast Asia, displayed alongside a 16-foot replica of the Bodhgaya Stupa. As part of this unveiling, there will be a gong strike, chanting, and a light-up ceremony.<\/p>\n

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Singapore\u2019s biggest animal blessing ceremony<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\"thekchen<\/b>Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

Back for its 5th edition, this year\u2019s annual animal blessing ceremony is expected to welcome as many as 1,000 pawrents and furkids. Catch the dharma sharing on how to be a better guru for your pet<\/b> at 6pm<\/b>, followed by the animal blessing ceremony<\/b> by Venerable Sanghas at 7pm<\/b> on 26th May 2026<\/b>. There will also be merit-making activities<\/b> throughout the festival, where your four-legged pals can earn a little extra good karma.<\/p>\n

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Heart of Giving Market<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\"thekchen
\nImage credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

In line with their community-oriented values, Thekchen Choling will be co-organising the Heart of Giving Market with Braddell Heights Constituency, which is also commemorating its 50th anniversary this year. Happening on 30th May 2026<\/b> at 2pm<\/b>, lower-income families living in the area can head down to the market to get their hands on fresh produce <\/b>and household products<\/b> for free<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Grand Dharma Light Circumambulation<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\"thekchen<\/b>Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

Also taking place on 30th May 2026<\/b> is the Grand Dharma Light Circumambulation.<\/b> Led by Thekchen Choling\u2019s Spiritual Director, Singha Rinpoche, the candlelit procession is a symbolic lighting of the path of Buddha\u2019s teachings, with raised scriptures and lighting of candles to ward off the darkness of ignorance. No registration is required, so you can drop by and join the procession happening at 8pm<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Vesak Day Prayer for World Peace & Harmony<\/b><\/h4>\n
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<\/b><\/b>\"thekchenImage credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/i><\/p>\n

To close the festival, Singha Rinpoche will be uniting festival-goers in a guided prayer<\/b> for world peace and healing. Join Singha Rinpoche as he prays \u00a0for those suffering from conflict and separation at 9.30am <\/b>on 31st May 2026.<\/b><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the full breakdown of the week-long festivities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/b><\/th>\nProgrammes\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\nTime<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
25th May 2026, Monday<\/th>\nWealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & <\/b>Purifying<\/b> Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Unveiling of Giant Wish-Fulfilling Thangka<\/b><\/p>\n
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  • Also streamed on Facebook Live<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n
7pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Recitation of 1000 Buddhas of the Fortunate Aeon (Chinese)\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n8pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
26th May 2026, Tuesday<\/th>\nWealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Dharma Sharing: You Are Your Pet\u2019s Guru (English)<\/b><\/th>\n6pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Animal Blessing Ceremony<\/b><\/th>\n7pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
27th May 2026, Wednesday<\/th>\nLhamo Cundi Initiation\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
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  • Registration required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n
10.30am<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Wealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Charity Sur Puja<\/b><\/th>\n6pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Vajra Wisdom Purification Ceremony (Chinese)<\/b><\/th>\n8pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
28th May 2026, Thursday<\/th>\nWealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Dharma Teaching: The Four Friends – How We Help Each Other Grow (English)\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n8pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
29th May 2026, Friday<\/th>\nWealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Let\u2019s Meditate Together with Singha Rinpoche<\/b><\/th>\n8pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
30th May 2026, Saturday<\/th>\nPublic Talk by Mind Transformations: Cultivating Positive Mental Wellbeing (English)\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n11am<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Heart of Giving Market – jointly organised with Braddell Heights Constituency<\/b><\/th>\n2pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Wealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Grand Dharma Light Circumambulation\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n8pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
31st May 2026, Sunday<\/th>\nShakyamuni Buddha & 16 Arhats Puja (Tibetan)\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n7.30am<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Vesak Day Prayer for World Peace & Harmony<\/b><\/p>\n
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  • Also streamed on Facebook Live<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n
9.30am<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Grand Offering Ceremony (Chinese)\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n11am<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Dharma Teaching by Singha Rinpoche (English)<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Refuge Ceremony\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • Registration required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n
2pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Wealth Deity & Protector Puja for Blessing & Purifying Obstacles (Tibetan)<\/b><\/th>\n5pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0Completion of Celebration\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n6pm<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/table>\n
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How to get to Our Joyous Vesak festival by Thekchen Choling Singapore<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\"Screenshot via Google Maps<\/i><\/p>\n

To get to the festival site outside NEX mall, take services 45<\/b>, 58<\/b>, 105, 109<\/b>, 133 <\/b>or 135<\/b> and alight at Serangoon Station Exit F bus stop<\/b>, which is right in front of the open field. Alternatively, you can hop on the North-East or Circle Line to get to Serangoon MRT Station <\/b>and take Exit F<\/b> – you\u2019ll find the festival grounds on your right.<\/p>\n

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Celebrate Vesak Day at Our Joyous Vesak 2026 festival<\/b><\/h3>\n
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If the year\u2019s got you down and you need a moment to sit back and reflect, this might be the spiritual reset that you and your furkid need, before we carry on with the rest of 2026.<\/p>\n

Find out more about Our Joyous Vesak<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

For more things to do around Serangoon:<\/p>\n