All set for Poson festivities at Mihintale and Anuradhapura

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura additional district group correspondent

ANURADHAPURA: Arrangements have been finalised to provide water, sanitation, transport and security to devotees visiting Anuradhapura and Mihintale during Poson. Abans Ltd will sponsor the Mihintale Aloka pooja organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd for the fourth consecutive year.

The Mihintale Poson Aloka Pooja organised by Lake House with the assistance of the CEB will commence this evening and continue till Thursday. Ministers W. D. J. Seneviratne and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane will switch on the illumination today.

The Lakdanavi Institute and Parakrama Radio have undertaken the special illumination of Ruwanweli Maha Seya and Isurumuniya during Poson.

Poson full moon day falls on Wednesday and the Poson week’s Pirith chanting commenced on Saturday with the traditional customs and water from Tisawewa was brought in a procession and placed in the special Pirith Mandapa close to the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi in the premises of historic Mahamevuna Uyana, by the Maha Sangha including chief incumbents of ‘Atamasthana’.

Religious rituals will commence at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on Wednesday with the offering of milk rice at the Sacred Bo-tree and the observance of Ata-Sil (Eight Precepts).

Devotees are expected to observe Ata-Sil at the Atamasthana and Mihintale.

The People’s Bank, Bank of Ceylon and the 23 Divisional Secretaries patronise the offering of alms to those observing Ata-Sil. Security will be strengthened during the festive days in the sacred areas of Anuradhapura and Mihintale on the instructions and the supervision of Joint Operations Commander (NCP) Major General Sanath Karunaratne and DIG (NCP) K. P. P. Pathirana.

Security personnel requested devotees visiting Anuradhapura for religious observances in private or CTB buses and trains to be vigilant and alert to identify suspicious persons, parcels and baggages during their stay in Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

Ten thousand uniformed and police personnel in civvies including Civil Security Corps have been detailed for duty during Poson with the Armed Forces assisting them.