Elaborate arrangements to mark Vesak in India

The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and the Mahabodhi Centre, Chennai will be celebrating the 2549th Vesak Day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Buddha. The celebrations will be conducted on May 23 at Egmore.

A press release said that the programme will commence, observing Astanga Sila which will follow a number of events. A colourful Vesak procession will also be conducted, said the release. The main Buddha Puja will be held at the Mahabodhi Centre.

The third Vesak commemoration lecture - 2005 organised by the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission will be held at the Museum Theatre on May 25 at 7.30 in the evening.

The main public discourse will be delivered by Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa, Editor-in-Chief of Sinhala encyclopedia former Professor of Sinhala, University of Peradeniya on the 'Syncretism' of beliefs, deities, add rituals in Sri Lanka and Southern India.