All set for Mihintale Aloka Pooja

Senarath Bandara Kulasekara

All arrangements have been finalised to celebrate the Poson Festival marking the advent of Arahat Mahinda Thera on Poson Poya Day with the message of Buddhism this year too in the Raja Rata in a grand and fitting manner.

The ANCL will hold the Mihintale Aloka Pooja for the 46th consecutive year from June 17 to 19 in collaboration with the CEB. The programme will be sponsored by Abans Limited. A large number of pilgrims are expected to converge on Anuradhapura and Mihintale during Poson.

The Poson week began yesterday and it will continue till Saturday.

The Poson Week will see many programmes around the Atamasthanaya, Mihintale and Tantirimale Raja Maha Viharaya on the theme of non violence and arrangements have been made to ensure the security of the vast crowds including VIPs participating in Poson activities, said a spokesman for the Anuradhapura poson festivities committee.

Police which had ordered the closure of all liquor shops, taverns and meat stalls in the Anuradhapura district during the poson week from June 15 to 21 has also drawn up plans to round up illicit liquor outlets in the district during this period.

The public have been advised to desist from bathing in the Nuwara Wewa and Tissa Wewa during Poson. Police have also prohibited the use of any tank or reservoir for washing of vehicles.

Special bus and rail services will be operated for the convenience of pilgrims visiting the Raja Rata for Poson. Only vehicles with special permits will be allowed to enter the Anuradhapura sacred city, during this period.

The public have also been requested to desist from damaging archaeological monuments and lighting camp fires which would cause damage to such monument and the environment.