Poson brings religious renaissance - Nayaka Thera

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

Over 1.5m Poson pilgrims in A’pura, Mihintale

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe and Gayan Rajapaksa

More than 1.5 million Poson pilgrims visited Anuradhapura and Mihintale during the last several days to participate in religious observances, Poson Festivities Committee and Anuradhapura Government Agent Mahinda Seneviratne said.

He said arrangements have been made to ensure security and welfare services to the devotees and no major incidents have been reported so far.

The third and final day of the Mihintale Poson Aloka Pooja was inaugurated by the Anuradhapura District Secretary Mahinda Seneviratne in association with Mihintale PS Chairman K.B. Sirisena, Divisional Secretary Ruwan Ekanayake, North Central CEB’s Deputy General Manager G. Muthukudaarachchi amid religious observances conducted by Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Ven. Walawahengunuwewe Dhammarathana Nayaka Thera.

A number of religious, cultural and educational and social hospitality services were performed to mark the 50th Poson Aloka Pooja, such as, the opening of Mihintale Sacred City’s Poyage (Chapter House), children’s playground (Sellam Midula) at Mihintale Pathiraja Tennakoon Model Primary School, Budhusarana oratorial competition and the essay competition and donation of Sil clothes to 1,000 Dhamma Schoolchildren in Mihintale and the Suburb for observing ‘Sil’ at Mihintale Sacred premises on Poson Poya Day.

The CEB contributed to the illumination programme as its co-sponsor and in other meritorious deeds ‘Maliban’ and ‘Abans’ companies assisted the implementation of the programmes financially. M/s Abans Ltd. Sponsored the Mihinthale Aloka Pooja 2012 for the consecutive year at a cost of Rs.2.5 million.

Anuradhapura Government Agent Mahinda Seneviratne said by May 5 afternoon a crowd of approximately 1.5 million devotees had visited the sacred sites, such as, Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Ven. Walawahengunuwewe Dhammarathana Nayaka Thera said the 50th Aloka Pooja had been the most successful and attractive illumination programme organized by the ANCL jointly with the CEB. This is an example to others who engage in similar exercises.

The Nayaka Thera said this Poson, most of the dreams based on the religious renaissance of historic Mihintale were realized mainly owing to the intervention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers.