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Serenity of Poson
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Poson Full Moon Poya Day, which marks the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, is traditionally celebrated with much veneration as well as festivity.
However, as with Vesak last month, most Buddhists in the country marked the day by observing sil or engaging in religious observances in their homes due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak. Many tuned into religious programmes aired over television and online.
People also lit pahan and lanterns in their home gardens and in temples closeby while the army put up a display of lanterns in the vicinity of the defence complex in Pelawatte.
In his Poson message, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that “The greatest tribute we can pay to Arahat Mahinda would be to celebrate this season of Poson by viewing life in a pragmatic manner in accordance with the Dhamma and depicting to the world the pristine glory of the teachings of the Buddha, based on compassion and nonviolence”.
This year’s State Poson Festival was held at Mihintale Medamaluwa in Anuradhapura with the participation of a limited number of devotees. Pictured here are devotees at Kelaniya temple and Vidyashanthi Pirivena in Piliyandela.
Pix by Indika Handuwala, M.A. Pushpa Kumara, Sameera Weerasekera and Lahiru Harshana