Wesak on grand scale at Bauddaloka Mawatha
 

by Chamikara Weerasinghe

Arrangements are in place to illuminate the Bauddhaloka Mawatha, the city's central hub of attraction during Wesak with numerous Wesak lanterns, pandals and other decorations for the successive fourth year by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress.

The Congress announced on Tuesday at the ACBC headquarters, Colombo 7, that steps are under way to commemorate this year's Wesak festival on a grand scale from May 23 to 26.

The organisers had arranged sessions of dhamma sermons for the public to be given on these days by the country's prominent Buddhist monks.

Explaining the arrangements ACBC Vice-president Jagathpriya Anura Sumathipala said: "A display of sacred relics of the Buddha will take place at the Dharmayatanaya opposite the BMICH. Decorations have been planned from Thunmulla junction at Bambalapitiya to the Kanatta Roundabout at Borella as in the previous year." There will be a giant display of more than 75 creative Wesak lanterns, Wesak devotional songs (Bhakti Gee recitals) by 50 groups from government and non-governmental organisations, and Sal Uyan stalls among other things.

The pinnacle of the Mahaweli Stupa and a model of the Sri Lanka's tallest Buddha statue will be displayed as a special attraction this year.

Also, arrangements have been made to play Buddhist movies in several locations. There will be presentations by Tower Hall artistes and gurus of the country's traditional puppet show art.

The ACBC thanked the Ceylon Electricity Board as they had agreed to provide electricity for them during the festival for four days. They also said that the Ministry of Buddha Sasana had been of great help in organising some of the events.