International Alms Giving: A Thai Buddhist Tradition Comes to Woking

Saturday 15 August 2026 | 9:30–11:30 AM | Jubilee Square, Woking

This summer, the heart of Woking will host something a little different from the usual Saturday market crowd: an ancient Buddhist ceremony of giving, generosity, and community. The Dhammakaya Temple London is bringing Tak Bat, the traditional Thai alms-giving ceremony, to Jubilee Square — and everyone, regardless of background or belief, is invited to take part.

International Alms Giving

A Tradition Over 2,500 Years Old

Offering food to Buddhist monks is one of the oldest and most enduring acts of generosity in the world, practised for more than two and a half millennia. At its core, it's beautifully simple: a monk carries an alms bowl, and members of the community place food into it as a gesture of kindness, gratitude, and support for the monastic way of life.

You don't need any prior knowledge or experience to join in. Volunteers on the day will be on hand to guide first-timers through the process, so whether you're a lifelong practitioner or simply curious, you'll feel welcome.

How to Take Part

The organisers have laid out six easy steps for getting involved:

1. Bring dry food — rice, pasta, noodles, canned goods, cereal, milk, biscuits, beans, and similar non-perishable items.

2. Or donate on the day — if you'd rather not shop in advance, you can make a donation at the event and the team will prepare a food offering on your behalf.

3. Offer to the monks — gently place your dry food into the monks' alms bowls as they process through the square.

4. Support the community — after the ceremony, the collected food doesn't just stay with the temple. It's shared onward with people in need.

5. Help others — a portion of donations will go to the Woking Foodbank, supporting local people facing hardship, and to The York Road Project, which helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

6. One gift, many smiles — as the organisers put it: give, share, care. A single act of kindness ripples outward to help far more people than you might expect.

   
   

Why It Matters

What makes this event special isn't just the ceremony itself, but what happens afterwards. The food offered to the monks becomes a bridge between an ancient spiritual practice and very immediate, local generosity — feeding people right here in Woking through trusted community partners. It's a lovely reminder that acts of faith and acts of charity aren't separate things; here, they're one and the same.

For participants, many describe the experience as unexpectedly moving — a moment of quiet reflection, connection, and inner peace in the middle of a busy town centre.

The Details

• 📅 Date: Saturday 15 August 2026

• ⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

• 📍 Location: Jubilee Square, Woking

• 📞 Contact: 01483 475757

• 📘 Facebook: Dhammakaya Temple London

  
  

Whether you come with a bag of rice and tinned goods or simply want to witness a beautiful tradition, all are welcome.

As the event's tagline puts it: your kindness today, a better tomorrow for our community.

Interested in learning more about Buddhist traditions or getting involved with local community giving? Follow Dhammakaya Temple London on Facebook for updates on this and future events.