Lankans in Nepal celebrate Vesak

The month of May each year is very special to the Buddhists all over the world, including Nepal-the birth place of Siddhartha Gautam. The day of the Full Moon in this month signifies the birth of Prince Siddhartha in Lumbini, Nepal, attaining enlightenment as Gautam Buddha (in Bodh Gaya, India) and the "mahaparinirvana" of the Lord Buddha in Kushinagar, India.

Talking to the telegraphnepal.com, Sri Lankan Ambassador Sumith Nakandala said that "the international Buddhist conference held in Sri Lanka in November 1998 had unanimously proposed that the Vesak day be recognised internationally and in particular at the United Nations Headquarters and other UN offices".

According to Ambassador Sumith Nakandala, the late Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar while addressing the plenary debate at the UNGA on November 23, 1998, had conveyed to the UNGA the decision made by the International Buddhist Conference in Colombo.

The Ambassador states that "in pursuance to the representation made thus at the UNGA, the UN 79th plenary meeting of the 54th session had adopted the resolution number 54/115 on the very International Recognition of the day of Vesak (month of Baisakh in Nepal) on December 15, 1999.

"According to Sri Lankan Buddhist calendar, this year the Vesak Day falls tomorrow, may 19," the Ambassador said adding " this year the Sri Lankan Embassy in collaboration with the Nepal's Buddhist community in Kathmandu and the Sri Lankan community will be celebrating this important event May 19, at the embassy premises itself.

The program will commence with the observance of Five Precepts and Buddha Puja (Worship).