Vesak celebrations in Beijing and Shanghai
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Sri Lankans and Chinese nationals celebrating the Vesak
festival at the Lingguang temple in Beijing. |
Over 1000 Sri Lankans and Chinese nationals gathered at the Lingguang
Temple on May 29 to commemorate the thrice blessed day. The event was
organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing with the assistance of
the Sri Lankan community. The Sri Lankan Embassy has organized Vesak Day
celebrations during the last 3 years, inviting senior Buddhist Monks to
conduct Dhamma Sermons as well as facilitating the observance of Astanga
Seela by the participants.
The highlight of this year's celebrations was the conducting of a
full day program in the Lingguang Temple, headed by the Chief Incumbent
the Most Ven. Chang Zhang Thera and Chief Incumbent of the Kiriwehera
Raja Maha Viharaya, Kataragama Ven Aluthwewa Soratha Thera. During the
State Visit of President Rajapaksa to China, he donated a replica of the
Samadhi Buddha to the Lingguang Temple and religious ceremony was
conducted in front of this replica.
A separate religious program was organized at the Jade Temple in
Shanghai on May 30, by the Sri Lanka Consulate. |
