June 15 to 21 to be named Anuradhapura Poson Week

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

The Anuradhapura District Poson Festival Committee has made arrangements for the Poson festival in Anuradhapura and Mihintale in 2008 adhering to the theme ‘non-violence’.

A special meeting of the District Poson Festival Committee was held recently at the Kachcheri Auditorium headed by Anuradhapura Government Agent H.M.K. Herath.

The meeting was attended by Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa, Ven. Ralapanawe Dhammajothi, Chief incumbent of Lankaramaya, Ven. Walawahengunawewa Dhammaratna, Incumbent of Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara and Ven. Nugethenne Pangnananda, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Temple Anuradhapura, Nayake Theras along with heads of Departments, representatives of NGOs, Public organisations and provincial security chiefs.

Since Poson Poya Day falls on June 18 it was decided to name the period between June 15 to 21 as Anuradhapura Poson week.

The procession carrying water from Tissawewa on June 14 would start from the historic Isurumuniya Raja Maha Vihara and in the evening the customary one week Poson Pirith chanting ceremony would commence at the special Pirith Mandapaya. in Mahameuna Uyana.

Herath said for the 46th time, Lake House assisted by the Ceylon Electricity Board has undertaken the Mihintale Aloka Pooja starting from June 17 for three days. The illumination of Ruwanweli Seya, Isurumuniya and Pathway (Peth Maga) in Mahameuna Uyana would be carried out by Lakdanavi Institute, Parakrama electricals and the Ceylon Electricity Board during the festive season.

The CEB would incur an expenditure of Rs. 4 million to provide power supply to Mihintale and Anuradhapura during the Poson season.

All liquor shops and meat stalls in Anuradhapura district would be closed from June 15 to 21. Since all tanks in the vicinity have filled to spill level, Police, Navy and Eagle Insurance Limited would see to the safety of devotees using the tanks for bathing and washing during the Poson week.

The committee envisages that nearly 100,000 devotees will observe Atasil at the eight places of worship and the Samadhi Statue in Maha Mevuna Uyana on Poson Full Moon day. It is also expected that more than one million people would flock to Mihintale and Anuradhapura.

The C.G.R, C.T.B. and private bus companies including Provincial Passenger Transportation Authority would make arrangements to provide sufficient transport services.

There will be 20 additional train services starting from Colombo and Matara for the benefit of devotees visiting Anuradhapura during Poson.

Major General Sanath Karunaratne, Combined Operational Commander of the North Central Province said a specially designed security net would be in force during the festive season in Anuradhapura and Mihintale to protect devotees.

He said security arrangements would not hinder the activities of pilgrims and religious rituals of Maha Sanga on Poson day.