Lillydale Lake will host a Buddhist animal blessing day for the first time.
The Sunday 28 October event will be the 10th annual animal blessing for Nalandra Buddhist Institute’s spiritual director His Eminence Zimo’g Rinpoche.
World Animal Day inspired the ceremony, which is dedicated to the well-being of all animals past, present and future.
All pets attending will receive blessing cords, blessed water and food.
Animals unable to attend or who are deceased are not forgotten.
Their loved ones can bring photographs and provide their name at registration.
“My father has now turned 100 but I intend to take him,” Susie Howard told the Mail.
“Last year we were blessed with lovely weather and my father loves animals.
“I don’t think he really understood the ceremony but being in an open setting, the sun spilling through the branches of the trees, seeing the dogs and being able to stroke some of them – and at the end he said to one of the organisers he felt he was in heaven.
“There just seems to be an amazing energy, which I think he must have picked up.”
Ms Howard said it was a special moment in time.
“It gives such happiness knowing your beloved pet, past or present, is at the centre of this spiritual blessing,” she said.
“One year, a beautiful silver-back gorilla had passed away at Melbourne Zoo and a former employee placed his photo high on a tree trunk and he seemed to be peering down at all of us in that commanding way that they have.”
Registration will start at 10.30am, with the blessing ceremony to follow at 11am and a picnic lunch from 12.30pm.
Entry is via 435 Swansea Road. Guests can follow the path to the lake and keep an eye out for Tibetan prayer flags.
Attendance is by donation, with all proceeds to not-for-profit agency Animal Aid, which provides foster care and adoption services.
Email nalandrainstitute@gmail.com or call Prue on 0425 841 913 for more information.
