Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day
75th Commemoration Ceremony

Na-Mu-Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo

On August 6^th 2020 we remember the 75^th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, while August 9^th was the day Nagasaki was also bombed.  Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19, the Grafton Peace Pagoda was not able to offer a public commemoration remembering these tragic events this year.  This is the first time in Peace Pagoda’s history that we have had a closed ceremony.  But we did have a wonderful ceremony of remembrance that we would love to share with you.  You can watch the video recording of the ceremony here:

74th Commemoration Ceremony
Grafton Peace Pagoda
Saturday, August 3, 2019

Forever Renounce War. Create a Nuclear-Free World.
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible.
-Daniel Beggigan, Catholic Priest and Peace Activist

6:30pm walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles)
This walk is the last leg of the Walk for a Nuclear Free Future (click here for more info)

8:00pm Program of Peace

• Speakers/Poem Reading
• Ceremonial Lighting of Lanterns
• Interfaith Prayer
• Musical Offerings

Rain or shine. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight, insect repellant, and blanket for comfort.

Contact Grafton Peace Pagoda between 8 am and 5 pm for more information
Phone: 518-658-9301 (no email)

Grafton Peace Pagoda Flower Festival
Celebrating the Birth of the Buddha
Saturday June 1, 2019 at 11:00AM

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

Traditional Buddhist Ceremony

Ecumenical Prayer with special guest from Iran, Elahe Golpari (Zoroastriani)

Speaker Amy Juan, Tohona O’odham Tribe, and International Indian Treaty Council to talk about the situation at the Mexican Border

Music Eric Marczak, Native American Flute

Dance Burma’s Spring Dance by Kokoh, Pawkuei friend

A simple pot latch (Native American traditional celebration feast) will follow the ceremony. Please consider bringing your own dished and utensils to cut down on the wasteful use of disposables and to step away from consumerism. We also welcome your contribution of home-made, healthy food prepared with the intention of honoring each other and the earth.

Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Rd, Petersburgh, NY 12138

For information call (518)658-9301 Between 8am and 5pm

Grafton Peace Pagoda
25th Anniversary Ceremony
Saturday October 6, 2018, 11:00am

If one wishes for peace for oneself, first pray for peace for the 4 directions, the entire world. All humans are facing extinction as each nation is concerned only for its own security. In order for humanity to survive we must abolish militarization and war. World peace and personal peace are inextricably linked and the Buddha Dharma of Ahinsa (non-violence) is the way to achieve both. – Nichidatsu Fuji

All Are Warmly Welcome
Buddhist Ceremony
Interfaith Prayers for Peace

Keynote Speaker: Martha Hennesey, Granddaughter of Dorothy Day,

Kings Bay Plowshares

Commemorate Dennis Banks’ One Year Memorial
Tashina Banks Rama, Daughter of Dennis Banks, Lakota Ojibwe

Taiko Drumming- Japanese Festival Drum

Please join us for potluck community meal following the ceremony. Please bring your favorite foods. It may be cold so please bring warm clothes and a blanket. Please arrive before 11:00 to park and walk to ceremony site.

For more information please call the Peace Pagoda between 7am and 4:30pm at (518) 658-9301. Nippozan Myohoji-Grafton Peace Pagoda, 87 Crandall Rd Petersburg, NY 12138

Hiroshima Nagasaki Day – 73rd Commemoration Ceremony
Grafton Peace Pagoda
Saturday August 11, 2018

Forever Renounce War – Create a Nuclear Free World
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

6:30 PM walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles)

8:00 PM Program of Peace:
Speakers/Poem Reading
Ceremonial Lighting of Lanterns
Interfaith Prayer
Musical Offerings

Rain or shine. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight and insect repellant. You may also want a blanket

Contact Grafton Peace Pagoda for more info
Phone: (518) 658-9301; Address: 87 Crandall Rd, Petersburg, NY 12138

Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

Thank you to everyone who attended the Grafton Peace Pagoda annual Flower Festival on Saturday April 28th in commemoration of the Buddha’s birthday. Chief Perry of the Ramapough Lenape Nation attended, as well as other guest speakers and performers. Chief Perry talked about non-violence and the Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp.

Take a look a photos from the day taken by photographer George Cho

Photo by George Cho

On Saturday, February 3rd, 2018 at 11am, the Grafton Peace Pagoda will be holding a 100 Days Commemoration of Dennis Banks. Dennis Banks’ son Minoh will be attending. Everyone is welcome to pray with us.

On Oct. 29th, 2017, Dennis Banks, beloved friend of Jun-san Yasuda and the Grafton Peace Pagoda, a renowned Anishanabe activist, teacher and writer, died at the age of 80. He was surrounded in song by his children and grandchildren.

Also, save the date for the 25th Anniversary of the Grafton Peace Pagoda, which will also be the 1 Year Commemoration of Dennis Banks on October 6 or 7, 2018.

We honor the life of this beloved friend with this video memory:

72nd Commemoration Ceremony of Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Grafton Peace Pagoda
Saturday August 5th, 2017
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

As we gather today to commemorate the anniversary of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki the new US administration is calling for a massive increase in the military budget, is escalating war in Syria, has deployed the largest non-nuclear bomb in history in Afghanistan and is recklessly engaging in increasing militaristic confrontations with North Korea. This administration is reviving the global nuclear arms race and planning to spend over $1 trillion to modernize its nuclear arsenal. All this when the US is only one of nine countries in the world that possesses nuclear weapons. We are calling on the US to join the majority of the world’s people in standing for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. This will be the beginning of restoring our vision to see the preciousness of all life and the protection of the planet.

6:30pm walk from Grafton Town Square to Peace Pagoda (4.3 miles)

8:00 Program of Peace

Words from People of the Waters That are Never Still (Mohican Nation): Bonney Hartley

Ceremonial lighting of Lanterns

Speaker: Miyako Taguchi, Second Generation Survivor from Nagasaki

Interfaith Prayer

Native American Flute: Eric Marczak

Poem Offering: Christian Caulfield

Rain or shine. Please wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a flashlight and insect repellant. You may also want a blanket.

For information call the Grafton Peace Pagoda between 8am and 4pm (518) 658-9301

Leading up to this ceremony:

Water Walk for Life, July 22-August 5, 2017
13 days, 170 mile walk from Ramapough NJ to Grafton NY