Our Joyous Vesak 2026 – Thekchen Choling Vesak Day festival 

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, Thekchen Choling Singapore is celebrating its Silver Jubilee with the biggest edition of its Vesak festival to date.

The week-long festival, Our Joyous Vesak, will be packed with cultural showcases, wellness events, family-friendly activities, and Singapore’s largest animal blessing ceremony – in case your furbaby needs a little divine TLC.

What is Our Joyous Vesak festival by Thekchen Choling Singapore?

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.

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore via Facebook

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.

Each year, Thekchen Choling Singapore organises a Vesak festival to honour the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Shakyamuni Buddha. This year’s edition, Our Joyous Vesak festival, also commemorates the monastery’s 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. 

What to expect at Our Joyous Vesak festival?

Unveiling Southeast Asia’s largest Shakyamuni Buddha thangka

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore

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 at 7pm. This is touted to be the largest Shakyamuni Buddha appliqué 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 light-up ceremony.

Singapore’s biggest animal blessing ceremony

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore

Back for its 5th edition, this year’s 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 at 6pm, followed by the animal blessing ceremony by Venerable Sanghas at 7pm on 26th May 2026. There will also be merit-making activities throughout the festival, where your four-legged pals can earn a little extra good karma.

Heart of Giving Market

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore

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 at 2pm, lower-income families living in the area can head down to the market to get their hands on fresh produce and household products for free.

Grand Dharma Light Circumambulation

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore

Also taking place on 30th May 2026 is the Grand Dharma Light Circumambulation. Led by Thekchen Choling’s Spiritual Director, Singha Rinpoche, the candlelit procession is a symbolic lighting of the path of Buddha’s 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.

Vesak Day Prayer for World Peace & Harmony

Image credit: Thekchen Choling Singapore

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

Here’s the full breakdown of the week-long festivities:

How to get to Our Joyous Vesak festival by Thekchen Choling Singapore

Screenshot via Google Maps

To get to the festival site outside NEX mall, take services 45, 58, 105, 109, 133 or 135 and alight at Serangoon Station Exit F bus stop, 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 and take Exit F – you’ll find the festival grounds on your right.

Celebrate Vesak Day at Our Joyous Vesak 2026 festival

If the year’s 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.

For more things to do around Serangoon:

• Play! Pickle Serangoon
• 13 things to do around Serangoon Gardens
• 10 things to do in Hougang & Buangkok

Cover image adapted from: Thekchen Choling Singapore