Over 1.5 m devotees to participate in 23rd Pichcha Mal Pooja
Priyanka KURUGALA
The 23rd "Pichcha Mal Pooja" will be held on a grand scale with over
1.5 million devotees expected to participate, at the premises of the
Ruwanweli Maha Seya and the Sri Maha Bodhi on July 28 at 3.00 pm, Ven
Kotapola Amarakiththi Thera said.
This will be held under the theme of "Pichcha Mal Suwandata Obe Sil
Suvanda Ekathu Karanna".
The Thera was addressing a press conference at the Information
Department in Colombo yesterday.
"The "Pichcha Mal Pooja" (Jasmin Flowers) Offering was started as a
very small religious activity in 1990 with only 150 devotees
participating in the event. However, this religious programme had been
expanded as a big programme numerous devotees will participate in this
programme from all over the country. The Shanthi Foundation will
organize the programme under the auspices of the Presidential
Secretariat, the Tri Forces, Ceylon Electricity Board, Anuradhapura
District Secretariat Office, National Water Supply and Drainage Board
and Anuradhapura Urban Council, "the Thera said.
"The Pichcha Mal Pooja will be held with the blessings of Chief
Incumbent of the Atamasthana Ven Pallegama Siriniwasa Thera and the
Chief Incumbent of Ruwan weli Seya Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Thera.The
programme will be launched under 33 sub committees," the Thera said.
Ven Amarakiththi Thera requested the public to participate in this
great religious activity clad in white. Men should be clad in white
sarongs and shirts or national dress while women should wear Osari, sari
or long sleeve blouses with long skirts.
"Observe and protect Sil when you are participating in this religious
activity. All devotees should partake of a vegetarian meal on this day,"
the Thera said.
"The Buddha had visited Sri Lanka on three occasions. Therefore, grow
one Jasmin plant in your home garden before plucking flowers for the
Pichcha Mal Pooja," the Thera said.
The Thera also requested the devotees to bring fruits from their
gardens to the Pooja and grow a fruit plant in the garden.
"An office to receive Jasmin flowers,a First Aid office and an office
for lost devotees will be setup at the Ruwanweli Seya,' the Thera said.
'Anybody who wishes to provide jasmine flowers for offerings are
asked to bring them in a basket made of plantain bark.
"The Thera also requested devotees not to put water on the flowers to
preserve them. Flowers should be given at least by 12 noon on Friday,"
the Thera said.
A special train service will be in operation for the occasion. A
special train to Anuradhapuraya from Colombo will operate from July 27
at 1.25 pm, a train from Matara to Anuradhapura will operate on Saturday
at 4.05 am.
It will reach Colombo at 7. 30 am. A special train will leave Colombo
for Anuradhapura at 7. 05 am.
"Around 1.5 million people will gather at Anuradhapura. Parents and
elders are advised to keep important telephone numbers with their
children in case of any emergency. The contact number for the office to
locate lost people are 025-3700373, 025-3700374," the Thera said.
Chief Organizer M S Weeratunga and Perehera Committee Chief Elbert
Wijewardene also spoke.
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