Sacred Buddha Relics exposition from August 19

Priyanka KURUGLA

An exposition of Sacred Buddha Relics will be held in Sri Lanka from August 19 to September 4 to enable people to pay homage to the Sacred Relics, Secretary to the President (Religious Affairs) Ven Getamanne Gunanda Thera said.

Ven. Getamanne Gunanda

India agreed to make the Sacred Relics available for veneration by Sri Lankans in response to a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to provide an opportunity for Buddhists in Sri Lanka to pay homage to the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics to commemorate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi, the thera said at a press conference at the Information Department yesterday.

It was originally planned to hold the exposition at 11 places covering all nine provinces, but the number of places was reduced to seven as requested by the Indian High Commission, the thera said.

The Indian Cultural Affairs Minister will also arrive in Sri Lanka with the Sacred Relics.

The Sacred Relics will be received at the Bandaranaike International Airport with full state honours and taken by road in a bullet proof vehicle to the first exhibition site in Kelaniya with an accompanying motorcade.

The Airport and Aviation Services has agreed to handle arrangements at the airport and offer forenoon dana to the Maha Sangha visiting the airport to receive the Relics.

The Relics will be conveyed to other exposition sites in an air conditioned helicopter.

The Indian government has sent a replica of the Sanchi Stupa in India to deposit the Sacred Relics during the exposition.

The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau provided three air conditioned chambers and two other chambers for the depositing and conveyance of the Sacred Relics.

The helicopters will be provided by the SLAF. CCTV cameras will also be set up at the exposition sites and the Police, Civil Security Department and the Ministerial Security Division will provide security at the exposition sites.

People visiting the exposition sites to pay homage to the Sacred Relics have been advised to desist from bringing handbags and other parcels to the venues as they will be subjected to body checks.

The exposition of Sacred Kapilavastu Buddha Relics is held in Sri Lanka for the second time. The first was held in 1978.

The exposition which is part of joint activities between Indian and Sri Lanka to commemorate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi highlighted the common cultural heritage and the bond of Buddhism between Sri Lanka and India.

Historical chronicles record that after the Buddha’s Parinibbana (passing away), the Holy Relics taken from the cremation site were divided into eight portions, and handed over to separate groups for preservation. According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta penned in the fifth century BC, a part of the Buddha’s bodily Relics was handed to the Sakyas of Kapilavastu. These came to be known as the Kapilavastu Relics.

Indian High Commission Counsellor (Press, Information and Culture) Birendra Singh said this will be a good opportunity to strengthen the relationships between India and Sri Lanka. Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary M K B Dissanayake also spoke.

[Kapilavastu Relics exposition days]

Manel Watta Maha Viharaya, Kelaniya - August 19, 20, 21
Rajamaha Viharaya, Pelmadulla - August 22, 23
Jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura – August 24,25,26
Agrabodhi Viharaya, Kantale – August 27, 28
Naranvita Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Temple, Gampola – August 29, 30
Sri Sumangala Pirivena, Wariyapola - August 31, September 1
Matara Kotikagoda Rajamaha Viharaya, Matara – September 2 to 4 and 5