Aloka Pooja added value to Poson season - A'pura GA
Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional District
group corr
Mihintale Lake House Aloka Pooja has been a beacon for the nation to
follow the path of noble Arhath Mahinda Thera, said Anuradhapura
Government Agent Mahinda Seneviratne. He said so on the last day of Lake
House Mihintala Aloka Pooja on June 24.
The 2013 national Poson religious festival at Mihintale added great
value to the Poson season which was participated by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa which symbolized the state patronage for the revival of glory
once prevailed at this most precious Buddhist Shrine, he said.
Seneviratne said it was a highly memorable Poson festival in
Anuradhapura and Mihintale where the leader of the country, the Maha
Sangha, government officials and members of the security forces joined
by around two million devotees participated in a series of meritorious
deeds such as storing Relics in Sanda Hiru Seya, Mihintale Aloka Pooja
exhibition of Buddha's Hair Relics, specially organized pirith chanting,
crowning the Chuda Manikkya atop Mihintale Sela Chetiya etc.
"Illuminating Mihintale is in other words illuminating the message of
dhamma endorsed by Arhath Mahinda Thera 2320 years ago having arrived on
the top of Aradhana gala confronting King Dewanampiyatissa," he said.
Lake House Director Editorial Seelaratne Senarath said it was highly
rejoicing that Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Ven
Walawahengunuwewa Dhammaratana Thera's dream of soliciting full state
patronage for the Mihintale sacred city development programme had
materialized with the arrival of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at
Mihintale.
He said Chairman and Managing Director of ANCL (Lake House) Bandula
Padmakumara intends to contribute to the Mihintale sacred city
development venture without confining to the annual Aloka Pooja in the
future.
In his anusasana, Chief Incumbent Ven Dhammaratana Nayaka Thera said
the country's first Aloka Pooja executed by King Dewanampiyatissa 2320
years ago was revived by the prestigious Lake House institute.
The prelate said it would greatly benefit devotees when the Rs 50
million worth proposed Dhamma Sala is set up before the 2014 Poson
festival. |