We are proud to be hosting our 15th annual celebration and invite everyone—pet owners and animal lovers alike—to join us in a heartfelt tribute to the unconditional love and trust our animal companions offer. This day is our chance to come together, regardless of our dietary choices or whether we own a pet, to dedicate our compassion to these treasured beings. We will honor those who have passed, pray for those seeking a loving home, and show gratitude to our current companions by welcoming them as special guests.

A Timeless Tradition for a Modern World

Inspired by ancient Buddhist practices, Nalandra honors the tradition of liberating animals—a practice that allows individuals to earn significant merit while promoting animal welfare. While the traditional release of captive animals is rare in the West due to environmental concerns, we uphold the spirit of this practice in alternative ways. We believe in supporting animal welfare through actions such as adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, donating to organizations that combat the illegal wildlife trade, and sending prayers to animals in need. These acts are powerful ways to exhaust negative karma and cultivate compassion for all.

Join Us for a Grand Celebration

Once again, Nalandra is honored to partner with Quang Minh Temple, one of Australia's most significant Buddhist sites and the largest Vietnamese temple outside of Vietnam. Last year’s Animal Blessing was a big success and we are excited to host this year’s blessing at the Braybrook temple again, alongside our Vietnamese Buddhist community. This year the blessing coincides with World Animal Day, and we will celebrate it in a Buddhist way on a grand scale. We will dedicate the day to animals in all situations—pets, sick or elderly animals, and those in slaughterhouses—by reciting the Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha mantras and prayers to send them blessings.

This event is entirely non-profit. All funds raised will be channeled directly to selected animal charities, ensuring your support goes directly to where it is needed most (see below).

A Day of Joy and Compassion

Please invite your friends, family, children, and pets to receive Buddha's blessing. This will be a day filled with joy and community. Join us in singing prayers and reciting mantras to cultivate peace and blessings. There will be complementary vegetarian food for all attendees, and special pet food for your animals.

Come celebrate compassion with us and make a difference in the lives of animals everywhere!

Bring your pet/s at 10:00am to register prior to the blessing ceremony and enjoy the beautiful surrounds of the Quang Minh Temple. You can also register (online) the names of pets who can’t attend or are deceased using the link below. Their names will be read out so that they can be included in the blessing ceremony, and you can bring a photo to display on our photo board.

ANIMAL BLESSING DETAILS (take a screenshot):

Date: Sunday 4th October 2026

BLESSING MASTERS:

The blessing of individual animals will be conducted by the three Buddhist masters from three traditions:

His Eminence Zimo’g Rinpoche (Tibetan, Nalandra)

Venerable Phuoc Tan (Vietnamese, Quang Ming Temple) Venerable Chi Kwang (Korean, Seon Centre, Kinglake)

BENEFICIARIES:

This year we proudly support two animal charities whose work for animal welfare is vast and tireless. The sum of all donations received will be divided equally among the following charities:

Animal Aid Coldstream

Animal Aid offers a place of refuge for the lost, unwanted and abandoned animals in our community. They work diligently to reunite lost pets and give a first rate second chance to unwanted animals. They are dedicated to improving the welfare of all companion animals in our society and passionately advocate and facilitate their adoption. They provide services that help people and pets; enthusiastically sharing knowledge and expertise.

The Lost Dog’s Home

The lost Dog’s Home works tirelessly to promote animal welfare, reuniting lost pets with their families; finding new homes for others; and doing all they can for the best possible outcome for companion animals.

In appreciation for their incredible efforts for animal beings, we invite you to help us support these charities. What better way to show our love for animals on World Animal Day! You can either donate using the link below or at the event.