Archives

Buddhist religious programme to mark 61st birthday

by J. Gunadasa Jayawickrema, Galewela group correspondent

It was an extra-ordinary sight to see a group of Europeans clad in pure white sarongs and banians,jackets and cloths with lotus flowers and Buddhist flags in their hands slowly walking towards the swarnamalee dagoba in Anuradhapura on July 26 evening. Over 500 local people including young and old men and women also participated in this procession.

A giant Samadhi Buddha statue now nearing completion atop Athugala, Elephant Rock, Kurunegala under a project undertaken by the Hasthishailapura Buduruwa Samithiya. The project costing Rs. 20 million will also include a worship area for Buddhist pilgrims and an administration block named “Grabha Gruha”.A spokesman for the Samithiya said this imposing place of Buddhist worship centrally situated in Kurunegala will be ceremonially declared open by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on September 2 morning. - Picture by Charlie Herat

A group of upcountry dancers played 'Magul Bera' drums and other perahera instruments giving colour and importance to this programme.

'The Universal Association for Peace and Love' organized this Buddhist religious programme to mark the 61st birthday of its chairperson Mrs. Rushula Beier.

Under the instructions of Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera Chief Incumbent of Colombo Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple Ven. Matale Rathanasiri Thera performed the religious rites. Ven. Sangarapitiye Maithri Thera the head of Piliyandala Dhammadeeparamaya temple and several other bhikkhus participated at the Pirith chanting to bless the German philanthropist and social worker and her German associates namely Michael Stadtler and his wife Christa Stadtler, their son Florian, Olaf Hoyer, Elisabet Lupke Gen, Joachim Sauer Eselbach and Bad Lippapringe.

Mrs. Beier offered a 'Atapirikara' to the Buddha statue in the sleeping posture at the shrine near the Maha Chethiya. A special 'Kirihara Pooja' (offering of milk-rice) also was performed at Jayasiri Maha Bodhi' on the following morning by the German social worker and her foreign companions and the local supporters.

The General Manager of this NGO Lakshman Mahanama organized this programme.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager