Funday Times

Gaveshaka discusses what goes on, on the most important day for Buddhists
It all happens on Vesak Poya day
It's Vesak Full Moon Poya day. Early morning devotees in their white garb find their way to the temple. The resident monk gets them to observe 'Ata Sil', the eight precepts as against 'Pan Sil', the five precepts, which Buddhists observe every day.

The idea is to withdraw from one's busy daily life and to cultivate spiritual development and peace of mind. A short sermon follows when the monk describes the significance of Vesak - the thrice blessed day commemorating the birth of Prince Siddhartha, Enlightenment of Gotama the Buddha and His passing away. Offerings are made to the Buddha in the form of 'Buddha Pooja' in the 'Budu-ge'. A monk would lead the recitation of appropriate 'gathas', the stanzas explaining the offerings made. The 'heel dana', morning alms are then offered to the monks. Devotees themselves would partake of their morning meal.

After a short rest, the devotees would listen to sermons and meditate under the guidance of a monk. Before noon, the 'daval dana', the mid-day alms would be offered, first to the Buddha and then to the monks, who would not take any solid food thereafter until the next morning. The devotees who have observed 'Ata Sil' too will refrain from taking any solids but only drink plain tea, coffee, coriander or a soft drink.

While the temple is a hive of activity on Vesak day, so is the outside. Final touches are given to the pandals erected at strategic locations. Each pandal relates a Jataka story - a chapter from Buddha's previous life. With hundreds of bulbs being used to light up the vivid paintings on the pandal, it needs expertise to set them properly. Experienced hands are contracted to do the job.

Meanwhile, young men are busy arranging the 'dansalas' offering food free to the people who get about on Vesak day. Sheds are put up by the roadside and decorated in a manner that fits the solemnity of Vesak. Tables are laid out and anyone passing by is invited to enjoy a meal. Motorists are stopped and often one sees young men pleading with them to at least have a cup of tea or a soft drink.

Every home would fly a Buddhist flag for Vesak. Incidentally, the flag was designed and accepted as far back as 1885. It was the work of the Buddhist Defense Committee formed on the initiative of Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, the American Theosophist who arrived in Ceylon in 1880 and led the Buddhist revivalist movement. The six-coloured flag consists of sapphire-blue (nila), golden-yellow (pita), crimson (lohita), white, (avadata), scarlet (mangasta) and a hue composed of the others blended (prabashvara).

The young and old alike get the 'pahan koodu' organized to be lit up in the night. Not many years ago, these lanterns were made at home but nowadays readymade ones are available. Young ones still prefer to buy the 'skeletons' and paste the tissue paper and the decorative frills themselves since it's fun doing it. A mix of Vesak 'koodu', 'atapattam' (so called because of the octagonal shape of the lantern) and 'pol thel pahan', the oil lamps is lit in every home on Vesak night making it an 'aloka pooja' to the Buddha.

While most of the elders who observe 'Ata Sil' prefer to spend the night in the temple listening to 'bana' sermons and participate in dhamma discussions, others return home but continue the 'sil' till next morning. They would avoid the bed to sleep on and use a mat on the floor in keeping with the precept to abstain from using high and luxurious seats (or bedding).

It is customary to go out in the night to see Vesak pandals, 'pahan koodu' and other decorations. With most of these activities being organized in Colombo and other main towns, it's a day out for the outstation crowds to come in their numbers and enjoy Vesak celebrations. It's usually on the second night after Vesak that many get out of home, having observed the Vesak day indulging themselves in religious observances.

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