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| A special New Year festival
On that day, the temple was decorated beautifully. The road leading to the temple was also decorated beautifully with the Buddhist flags hung along it. On other days the temple looked as if it was filled with white swans, when everybody was dressed in white. But that day it was different. Everybody was dressed in colourful clothes. Boys were dressed in sarongs and shirts while girls were dressed in cloth and jacket. The festival began at 8 o'clock with the hoisting of the National Flag. It was done by the chief priest of the temple, while the National Anthem was sung by the children. There was a very important event which was more relevant at a time like today, where national harmony and peace is essential. That event has never been seen in the other New Year festivals. Three religious leaders were invited on that day. The tables were full of New Year foods such as milk rice, oil cakes, kokis and asmi for them to taste. A thought provoking and interesting speech was delivered by each of them. Then the children worshipped them by offering betel as a New Year custom. They were given parcels of Avurudu gifts too. That was a new custom to develop peace and harmony among all religions. After that all the New Year customs were done by our elder ones while explaining its importance for us to learn. Next everybody was treated with New Year foods, while a main event of all the New Year festivals, which is playing rabana also took place. Thereafter the folk games started. The most interesting event was singing folk songs. There were many more events such as keeping the eye to the elephant, sack race and breaking pots. The winners as well as the participants were given prizes by Venerable Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thero who is the chief monk of the temple. It was a day of fun and enjoyment for all and at the end of the day everybody was happy. |
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It
was a delightful time for all the kids and adults who were at the
Siri Sadaham Monastery because there was a special Avurudu festival.
It was held on April 9 this year with the participation of all the
children who are members of the children's programme of the temple.
