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| Thursday, 15 May 2003 |
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(From Shiromi Abeysinghe in Chennai, India) The stage is set in Chennai, South India to celebrate Vesak on a grand scale today, May 15, under the patronage of Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Centre at Eggmore, Chennai. Cultural troupes from several Buddhist countries including Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are expected to participate in the pageant that will leave the Mahabodhi Centre at 4.30 p.m. Sri Lankan time to parade the streets, Kenneth Road, Gandhi Earvin Road, Police Commissioner's Road, Panthian Road and the River Road. Indian Intellectual Property Board Chairman S. Jegatheesan will participate as the Chief Guest. Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims of India and Sri Lanka will take part in the celebrations. 3000 men and women and 30 Bhikkus from Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka will walk in the procession which takes the casket of relics on a highly decorated float offered by Indian businessmen at a cost of one hundred and fifty thousand Indian Rupees. The "sil" campaign on the Vesak Day begins this morning, May 15 at the Mahabodhi Centre where over 300 devotees from remote areas like Selam, Vellur and Kanchipuram will observe "ata sil" and as a special feature, 50 Tamil devotees, both male and female will temporarily enter the Buddhist Order. A large number of business organizations, both Indian and Sri Lankan have undertaken sponsorship for these celebrations. Ven. Banagala Upathissa Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of Agrasravaka Viharaya, Maligakanda and the President of the Mahabodhi Society, Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of Nalandaramaya, Nugegoda, Ven. Mudalakkuliye Rathanajothi Thera, Ven. Kalavane Dhammaloka Thera and Ven. Thunhitiywe Dhammaloka Thera comprise the Organizing Committee of Vesak celebrations in Chennai. |
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