T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER — Visitors gather in front of the Buddha statue at the Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa’s annual festival, believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the United States, just outside of Marshalltown on Sunday afternoon.

Approximately 1,500 people attended this weekend’s annual festival offered by the Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa on their grounds southeast of Marshalltown, with the public invited to enjoy the festivities on Sunday.

Dozens of monks from across the United States participated in the Sunday afternoon Sangha Donation ceremonies, as attendees lined the gravel path down to the festival grounds offering donations of money or supplies to help the monks. The donations fulfill financial needs of the temple and pay for future projects like a planned expansion of the Yaw Nwe Dhamma Center that will include a Buddhist school, as required by the religion.

Representatives from JBS USA were in attendance at Sunday’s festival as the company provides financial and other support for the TDSI event.

Visitors took photos in front of a large Buddha statue at the Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa’s annual festival, believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the United States.

Those partaking in the extensive buffet offered at the annual Theravada Dhamma Society festival were also entertained with traditional Burmese dancing, music and other entertainment.

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Contact Jake Ryder at 641-753-6611 ext. 227 or jryder@timesrepublican.