National Poson festival theme proposed

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

“Let’s be on the path of Arahanth Mahinda,” is the 2013 Anuradhapura National Poson Religious Festival theme. Anuradhapura Ruwanweli Chetiyaramadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thera who proposed the Poson theme to the Anuradhapura Poson Celebrations Steering Committee told the Daily News that the supremacy endowed to the nation by Arahanth Mahinda Thera who brought the Buddha’s teachings to Sri Lanka, has been dwindling, thus causing an erosion to our essential values.

“In the context the whole society irrespective of any discrimination as Sri Lankans, from the first citizen to the bottom shall dedicate to materialize the long awaited righteous society with memory, wisdom and the knowledge. The National Poson religious theme such as “Let’s be on the path of Arahanth Mahinda,” symbolises this national responsibility,” the Nayake Thera emphasized.

The prelate insisted the devotees visiting Anuradhapura and Mihintale during Poson season to begin with higher precepts thus refraining from alcohol, meat etc. and engage in religious observances clad in white. Also there shall not be unwarranted dancing, singing and music which disturb the peaceful environment prevailing in the sacred areas, the Nayaka Thera said.

Ven Hemarathana Thera requested the devotees to cater to about 60,000 ‘sil’ observers at the eight places of worship in Mahamevunawa, on Poson Poya Day.