Don’t let the dazzle blind you
The Vesak festival has developed into a dazzling pageant. Giant pandals highlight events of the Buddha’s Life and His previous Births while colourful lanterns and decorations illuminate the Vesak night making it the most spectacular event of the year.
This indeed is a far cry from the days when a simple oil lamp was lit on Vesak nights to signify the dispelling of darkness of ignorance and the illumination of the mind. It was on a full moon day of Vesak in 528BC that Gauthama Buddha while He was seated under a Bodhi Tree in deep concentration to seek the Truth, was Enlightened. The significance of Vesak is further enhanced with the Birth and the Passing Away into Parinibbhana taking place on a day of Vesak.
The first recorded reference in the Mahavamsa of a Vesak festival held in Sri Lanka was during the reign of King Dutugemunu. It states that the King celebrated Vesak every year during his 24- year reign lighting thousand lamps in honour of the Buddha at 12 places and providing oil for every temple to light lamps eight times in the Vesak month.
Vesak had been observed ever since although celebrations had been low-key during colonial rule. Throughout however, religious veneration and engagements with the Dhamma took precedence over festivities. Devout Buddhists to date, clad in pristine white and barefoot, trek to the temples on Vesak day to reaffirm their faith in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Those who follow the five Precepts propounded by the Buddha observe His eight Precepts on Vesak Poya day in order to practise morality, simplicity and humility.
Observation of Precepts apart, the pious practise meditation as an effort to discipline the mind. Amidst the chant of stanzas recited by the Buddha 25 centuries ago and repeated by the bhikkhus in the temples ever since, devotees engage themselves in comprehending the Doctrine of the Buddha and listening to Dhamma sermons.
“Aamisa Pooja” (the rituals) form an integral part of the veneration when devotees offer flowers to the Buddha – an act which expresses impermanence. They light lamps, burn incense in veneration of the Buddha and perform “Bodhi Pooja.” These in essence, satisfy the spiritual need of the Buddhist devotee.
However, with Vesak holding special significance to Buddhists, they light even a simple Vesak lantern at home or hoist a Buddhist flag. Being on holiday at home, the young ones get down to making lanterns weeks ahead of Vesak making the frame with bamboo strips they had shaved and polished and pasting over it the “sauv” paper with the home- made “pappa.”
Perennial favourites in Lankan homes are the frilly “atapattama” (octogen,) the lotus and the star-shaped lanterns.These in the olden days, were lit up with candles and hung from a branch of a tree in the compound. Delightful were these gently swaying creations with the frills rustling in the wind. A more daring innovation was the aeroplane which the older boys turned out.
The simple “bucket lanterns” in Buddhist colours, bought from the nearby boutique in the days past, were found to be risky. On windy days, the chances were that these rather narrow lanterns, lit with candles and hung on a string could go up in flames. Yet, with lanterns being part of the Vesak tradition, even the humblest of homes hung one or two “bucket-koodu” or lit a clay pahana in honour of the Buddha.
The practice eventually spilt out from homes to public areas expanding beyond belief. Today, we see a riot of lights with lanterns of varied shapes and sizes – Chinese lanterns included, elaborate pandals and other Vesak images illuminated by flashing coloured bulbs. Panels of blinking lights cover entire building facades with even trees lining roads not spared of the glitter.
The authorities have banned the performance of “olubakko” on Vesak stages – a performance by actors with oversized painted pots placed on their heads which has no relevance to Vesak. Perhaps, Vesak zones held in the cities and which award prizes for the best efforts could instil in the creators to bring out the spirit and depth of Dhamma in their creations.
Vesak Bakthi Geetha are soothing chants of devotional songs where colourfully decorated carol-carts ( floats) carrying groups of youth singing devotional songs parade the streets. The pandals which artistically depict Buddhist episodes with the story broadcast electronically no doubt draw huge crowds. But over enthusiasm and religious zeal however, lead devotees to construct impressive pandals which are costly with high electricity bills to be settled post Vesak necessitating sponsorship of big businessmen and donors. Ostentatious decorations besides go against the Teachings of the Buddha.
Concerns have also been expressed that the Vesak Festival should be saved from succumbing to commercialization. Is it too late to make remedies?