Sunday

Children’s Day at Karme Choling

by Lauren Sanford

This year Karme Choling’s Children’s Day celebration featured crafts in the morning including cookie decorating, writing out wishes (which were then put on our solstice tree), painting, candle making, and making glitter jars. The glitter jars, which could also be called a home made snow globe, were a big hit. After crafts were over and lunch was served families made their way to the Main Shrine Room where children took their freshly made candles and lined up, smallest to tallest, outside the shrine room. Parents were invited in first and the children then processed in to light and offer their candles at the Children’s Day Shrine. After the candle lighting, the King and Queen of Shambhala made their entrance and addressed and welcomed all. A play, performed by the Karme Choling players, followed the King and Queen’s remarks. The play, entitled the Fish King, was an adapted Jataka Tale and a story of the Buddha as a fish. Once the play had commenced the children were invited up to see the King and Queen and receive a blessing and candy. The day concluded with hot cider and cookies for al! Children were invited to bring a toy for a child in need and the gifts were donated to the local fire department.

Click on photos below to view as a slideshow.