38th Raja Rata Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya conducted

BY CHULA Bandara Kulasekera and S. T. B. Senaratne

AMIDST torrential rains, the 38th Raja Rata "Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya" to offer rice from the first harvest of the year to the historical Jaya Siri Maha Bodhiya was conducted on the guidance of Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera, yesterday morning. Agriculture Minister Anurakumara Dissanayake was present on the occasion.

On the previous evening the rites of "Kiri Ithiraweema" was performed at the Sathara Vahalkada (four gate-ways) amidst traditional drum beating followed by an all night pirith chanting.On the following morning a "Kiripidu pooja" was conducted before the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhiya.

After the morning alms-giving to the Maha Sangha the giant golden bowl was placed before the sacred bo-tree and the Buddhist cultivators converged from the four corners of the District and filled the golden bowl with cleaned rice from the first harvest till the bowl over-flowed.

Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera delivering an anusasana said that the observance of the Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya is a tradition coming from ancient times and that the rice offered on this occasion will be distributed among other smaller temples and the poor people of the area.

The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services. Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Anuradhapura District MP Ranaweera Pathirana, Agrarian Services Commissioner General Lucas Indurugolla and Agriculture Ministry Secretary Tissa Warnasooriya addressed the gathering.