When 500 monks went on Pindapatha in Kandy town
Pix by Avanti Karunaratna
The Thrice-Blessed day of Vesak was celebrated throughout Sri Lanka this week and in the hill capital of Kandy, a Pindapatha charikawa (alms round) for 500 bhikkhus (monks) was held on May 2. The bhikkhus were conducted from the Mahamaluwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, through Kandy town with 500 schoolboys walking with the monks to help them.
The bhikkhus received dana (alms) prepared by many government organisations, business establishments and also by lay devotees who brought their offerings from home. They were then conducted to five locations to sit and partake of the alms that were collected.
Schoolchildren were involved mainly to make them aware of the custom of Pindapatha (pinda means food and patha means bowl) — the practice of collecting alms food by Theravada Buddhist monks and the support received from the lay devotees, as many children nowadays are not aware of this practice and have not seen a monk going on an alms round.
One hundred monks were received by the Kandy Municipal Commissioner Ishan Wijetilaka, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner Prabath Meddumaarachchi and the Maha Vishnu Devala Basnayake Nilame Mahindra Ratwatte. Pansil (five precepts for lay devotees), was recited by Ven Dhammasiddi Thera of the Udawattakelle Rama Viharaya.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Kandy Municipality speaking to the Sunday Times on the Vesak programme planned for Kandy under the theme ‘Senkadagala Vesak Mangalya 2023’ said it was initiated by the Ven. Naranpanawe Ananda Thera of the Asgiriya Mahapirivena. After discussions with the Malwatte and Asgiriya Mahavihara bhikkhus, and with the participation of all Government Departments and the four devalas, the week-long Vesak celebrations were organised.
Many other events such as Bhakti Gee and Dhamma talks were conducted during the Senkadagala Vesak Mangalya week.
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