Hanamatsuri commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth on April 8th. It literally means festival of the flowers.
 
Born in a grove of blossoming trees, the baby Buddha is said to have taken seven steps representing each direction--North, South, East, West, Up, Down and Here. Pointing to the sky and to the ground he proclaimed, “Above the heavens, below the earth, I alone am the world honored one.”
 
On Hanamatsuri, we bathe the baby Buddha statue with a dipper of water and offer a flower in gratitude for his entry into the world. Our service starts at 10:30am on Saturday with the chanting of the Heart Sutra. Guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early.