វត្តរតនប្រទីបOttawa-Hull Cambodian Buddhist Association
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ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍នៅវត្តខ្មែរអូតាវ៉ា

What happens at the temple

Khmer temple schedule & events in Ottawa

A typical day at the temple, the holy days that follow the moon, the great festivals of the Khmer year (with a guide to each Khmer festival), and a calendar for the months ahead.

A monk and community members seated in front of a decorated gateway, with white tents and pots of chrysanthemums

Every day

កម្មវិធីប្រចាំថ្ងៃ

A typical day at the temple

Chanting, the monks’ meals and quiet meditation shape each day. Every Sunday the community also gathers for a meal offering, at a time to be confirmed.

  1. 5:30AM

    Morning chanting & meditation

    ការសូត្រមន្តព្រឹក

    The resident monks begin the day with chanting and meditation.

  2. 7:00AM

    Morning alms & breakfast offering

    ការប្រគេនអាហារពេលព្រឹក

    Families may offer breakfast to the monks.

  3. 11:00AM

    Lunch offering (dana)

    ការប្រគេនភត្ត

    Food is offered to the monks, whose last meal of the day is taken before noon.

  4. 6:00PM

    Evening chanting

    ការសូត្រមន្តពេលល្ងាច

    Evening prayers and chanting with the Sangha.

  5. 7:00PM

    Meditation — open to all

    ការធ្វើសមាធិ

    A quiet sitting practice. Newcomers are warmly welcome.

Times may change on holy days — check our Facebook for updates.

Holy days

ថ្ងៃសីល

Thngai Sil, the observance days

Buddhist holy days, known as Thngai Sil, fall on the 8th and 15th days of the waxing moon and of the waning moon, four times in each lunar month. Because they follow the moon, the dates change from year to year.

On these days, lay people may keep the eight precepts, offer food to the monks, listen to the Dhamma and sit in quiet meditation. Families are always welcome to join us.

People praying on red carpets in the temple hall, under strings of Buddhist flags and painted murals

On a Thngai Sil day

  • Keep the eight precepts for the day
  • Offer food to the monks
  • Listen to the Dhamma
  • Sit in quiet meditation

The eight precepts are the five precepts, plus abstaining from eating after midday, from entertainment and adornment, and from high or luxurious beds.

Through the year

បុណ្យប្រពៃណី

The great Khmer festivals in Ottawa

Many festivals follow the moon, so their dates change from year to year. The 2026 dates below are from the temple’s official events list; later dates are estimates until the temple confirms them.

A monk and community members seated in front of a decorated gateway, with white tents and pots of chrysanthemums

April · three official days

Khmer New Yearបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី

Choul Chnam Thmey welcomes the new year with merit-making, blessings, games, music and family meals. The three official days are Maha Sangkran, Virak Vanabat and Vearak Loeng Sak. The temple usually celebrates on the weekend nearest to them, as it did on April 11–12 in 2026.

Khmer New Year in Ottawa: guide

  • Building sand stupas at the temple
  • Pouring water over Buddha statues and elders as a blessing
  • Sharing food with the monks and the community
Festival2026: April 11–122027: to be confirmed
A woman in a blue sash laughing as the procession passes, with a golden umbrella behind her

May · full moon

Visak Bocheaវិសាខបូជា

One full-moon day honouring the Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and his passing away.

Visak Bochea in Ottawa: guide

  • Offerings of food, candles and incense
  • Listening to the Dhamma
  • A candlelit walk around the vihara in the evening
Holy day2026: May 12027: to be confirmed
Two monks seated at a long table of home-cooked dishes offered by the community, in front of a mural of the reclining Buddha

September – October · fifteen days

Pchum Benភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ

Fifteen days of remembering our ancestors. Families offer food and merit to the monks on their behalf, and the festival ends with the main day.

Pchum Ben in Ottawa: guide

  • Offerings of rice balls (bay ben) for the departed
  • Chanting and blessings with the monks
  • A time for the whole family to come together
Festival2026: October 10–11
Community members offering food to monks in saffron robes outside the temple

After the Rains Retreat · one-month season

Kathina Samakiបុណ្យកឋិនទានសាមគ្គី

The yearly robe-offering ceremony, held within one month after the end of the Rains Retreat. The community gathers to offer robes and daily necessities to the monks.

Kathina in Ottawa: guide

  • A joyful procession to the temple
  • Robes and necessities offered to the Sangha
  • Merit-making shared by families and friends
Festival2026: November 8
People praying on red carpets in the temple hall, under strings of Buddhist flags and painted murals

February · full moon

Meak Bocheaមាឃបូជា

Remembers the gathering of 1,250 enlightened disciples, who came together spontaneously to hear the Buddha. He gave them the Ovada Patimokkha, a summary of his core teaching.

  • Offering food to the monks
  • Taking the precepts and listening to the Dhamma
  • An evening candlelit walk around the vihara
Holy day2026: February 22027: to be confirmed
The shrine room, with a Buddha statue, fresh flowers, candles and painted murals of the Buddha

July – October · three months

Chol & Chenh Vassaបុណ្យចូលព្រះវស្សា

Chol Vassa marks the start of the three-month Rains Retreat, when the monks stay in their monasteries to study, meditate and teach. Chenh Vassa marks its end.

  • Lay people often take on extra precepts during the retreat
  • Kathina, the robe offering, follows once the retreat ends
Holy dayChol Vassa: July 26Chenh Vassa: October 26

Dates

កាលបរិច្ឆេទ

Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, Kathina and more: dates at a glance

Every festival and holy day on our list, in one place. 2026 dates are from the temple’s official events list; estimated dates are marked until the temple confirms them.

2026: official temple dates

2026 festival and holy day dates at the temple
DateEventType
Meak Bochea បុណ្យមាឃបូជាHoly day
Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរFestival
Visak Bochea បុណ្យវិសាខបូជាHoly day
Temple anniversary & community picnic បុណ្យខួបកំណើតវត្តរតនប្រទីប និង PicnicFestival
Chol Vassa — start of the Rains Retreat បុណ្យចូលព្រះវស្សាHoly day
Phka Prak Samaki — community fundraising ceremony បុណ្យផ្កាប្រាក់សាមគ្គីFestival
Khmer Community Picnic & Food FairCommunity
(9:30 AM – 6:00 PM)Festival for the Completion of Achievements & Food SaleFestival
Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day) បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌFestival
Chenh Vassa — end of the Rains Retreat បុណ្យចេញព្រះវស្សាHoly day
Kathina Samaki — robe-offering ceremony បុណ្យកឋិនទានសាមគ្គីFestival

2027: estimated dates, to be confirmed by the temple

2027 estimated festival and holy day dates
DateEventType
Meak Bochea បុណ្យមាឃបូជាHoly day
(Official days; the temple celebration is usually the nearest weekend)Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរFestival
Visak Bochea បុណ្យវិសាខបូជាHoly day

Sunday community gathering & meal offering: every Sunday (time to be confirmed).

Calendar

ប្រតិទិនព្រឹត្តិការណ៍

Plan the months ahead

Switch between month and list views, filter by type, and add any event to your own calendar. 2026 dates are from the temple’s official list. Dates marked “Date to be confirmed” are estimates until the temple announces them.

October 2026

FestivalsHoly daysWeeklyCommunity
October 2026 event calendar
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
27282930123
456789
121314151617
192021222324
2728293031

Events in October 2026

FestivalPast event

Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day)បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ

Oct 10 – 11, 2026

Khmer families remember their ancestors by offering food and merit to the monks on their behalf, in the fifteen days that lead to the main Pchum Ben days.

Pchum Ben in Ottawa: festival guide

WeeklyDate to be confirmed

Sunday community gathering & meal offeringការជួបជុំប្រចាំសប្តាហ៍

Every Sunday · Time to be confirmed

Each Sunday the community gathers at the temple to offer food to the monks, share a meal and spend time together. Exact times are confirmed on our Facebook page.

Add to Google Calendar
Holy dayPast event

Chenh Vassa — end of the Rains Retreatបុណ្យចេញព្រះវស្សា

Oct 26, 2026

Chenh Vassa marks the end of the three-month Rains Retreat. The Kathina season, when robes are offered to the Sangha, follows.

ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត

Festivals are made by many hands

Help prepare the festival kitchen, set up the grounds, guide parking or welcome families. Whatever your time and skills, there is a place for you.

Volunteer with us