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Sambuddhatva Jayanthi:
Nation enveloped in spiritual fervour
Chaminda Perera
*Sacred Hair Relics exposition at Kalutara Bodhi
*Eighteen special Vesak Zones in Colombo
*Over 18 pandals in Colombo city
*Amadahara Vesak Zone to attract large crowds
The entire nation is preparing to celebrate the 2600th Sri
Sambuddhatva Jayanthi beginning today, Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.
Religious activities including meditation programmes will take pride of
place in the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations to be held at all
temples and Buddhist monasteries islandwide.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday declared the Sri Sambuddhatva
Jayanthi Year beginning from the Vesak Full Moon day at the Anuradhapura
Jayasri Maha Bodhi and a series of programmes is in store to celebrate
this landmark event throughout this year under state patronage.
A number of events have also been planned by the Sri Lankan community
overseas and the Buddhist community world over to celebrate the 2600th
anniversary of the Enlightenment of the Buddha.
The government appointed a special committee comprising erudite monks
representing all Chapters of the Buddhist clergy to plan and implement
the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations.
Colombo city has 18 special Vesak Zones where a host of programmes,
including Bakthi gee recitals and lantern competitions are to be held.
Tens of thousands of members of the public are expected to visit the
Amadahara Vesak Zone which covers the area from Lake House roundabout to
the Presidential Secretariat, the Gangaramaya Vesak Zone which begins
from Hunupitiya Gangaramaya to Temple Trees, Sambuddhaloka Vesak Zone
along Bauddhaloka Mawatha and eight such special Vesak Zones in Colombo
city.
More than 18 pandals have been erected in Colombo city and the
Nawaloka Vesak Pandal at Peliyagoda is to be opened by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa. He will also participate in the opening of the Sambuddhatva
pandal in Colombo 07.
The Amadahara Vesak Zone is organized by the Associated Newspapers
Ceylon Limited in association with the Sri Lanka Telecom while the All
Ceylon Buddhist Conference is organizing the Sambudhaloka Vesak Zone.
A Special exposition of Sacred Hair Relics of Buddha began today at
the Kalutara Bodhi premises today. The Sacred Hair Relics of the Buddha,
brought from Bangladesh would be displayed in the Kalutara Bodhi
premises till May 18.
Meanwhile, the Police department yesterday said special security
arrangements covering all areas of the country would be in place from
today.
According to Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody, a special
contingent of police personnel will be deployed for the safety of the
public watching Vesak pandals. He said the Police department will
implement a special traffic plan in the Colombo city and all other main
cities to evade traffic congestion.
All Buddhist temples in the country were requested by the
Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Presidential Operation committee to mark the dawn
of the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi on May 17 by ringing temple
bells from 5.45 p.m. to 5.50 p.m.
The committee has also requested all Buddhists to observe Pansil at
their homes and engage in religious practices once the ringing of bells
ends. The Committee has requested the people to hoist a Buddhist flag in
their houses and engage in Prathipatti Pooja on the Poya day. The
Committee has also requested the people using public address systems to
tone down the noise so that they won�t cause obstruction to the
Prathipatti Pooja.
The Committee which said the period from Vesak Poya Day this year to
that of 2012 has been declared as the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi
year requested all Buddhists to lead a life according to the Buddhist
teachings. |
