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Spiritual and cultural showcase a blessing for a weary country
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Attempt at a Guinness record to build biggest pandal at Panadura. Pic by Saman Kariyawasam
By Kasun Warakapitiya
Vesak Full Moon Poya will light up Sri Lanka after subdued celebrations over the past couple of years due to the economic collapse.The Sunday Times observed more pandals being built in the Western Province. Preparations are also underway to decorate state institutes, private companies, and roadsides.
Thotalanga pandol and its creator Susantha Jayakody
Decorators said sponsors are providing money, but as the same businessmen are supporting others, the amounts are smaller.
Some pandal creators, however, are thinking big.
There are even attempts at a Guinness record to build the biggest pandal at Panadura.
Another attraction is coming up at Kosgas Handiya.
Osanda Wickremarchchi, president of Sri Waishyakya Sambuddhaloka Samithiya, which is building the pandal, told the Sunday Timesthat from 2018 to 2021, a display was not possible.
Susantha Jayakody
“The Easter Sunday attack, the coronavirus pandemic, and economic hardship were the reasons. But we managed to erect the pandal designed in 2018 in 2022. But last year we could not build the pandal due to financial issues,’’ he said.
He said the pandal featuring Maha Kanna Jathakaya gives a message about politicians who ruin the country. Rs. 3.5 million has been budgeted for the project.
The Sri Sambuddha Vihara at Orugodawatta is building a Rs 2 million, 50-foot-tall, 45-foot-wide pandal for the first time near. A monk in charge, Ven Halmillakulame Sujatha Ganana Thera, said that the theme is the Themiya Kumara Jathakaya. It will be illuminated with 45,000 lights.
It is a creation of Susantha Jayakody, who is putting up pandals in Warakapola, Polgahawela, Thotalanga, and Grandpass.
Mr. Jayakody said that the Thotalanga pandal is 70 feet high and 76 feet wide and is on display for the 16th time.
Another pandal is nearing completion in Dematagoda, and its creator, Savindu Gallage, said costs are high. “Previously, a pandal cost Rs 1.6 million, but now it costs more than Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 million.’’ It will display the Manichora Jathakaya with 2.5 million LEDs illuminating it.
Mr. Gallage said four more are being erected at Gampaha, Godagama, and Thalawathugoda.
Army media spokesman Major General Rasika Kumara said that decorations made by the three forces will go on display at the defence headquarters in Akuregoda.
Pandol at Kosgas Handiya Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
Osanda Wickremarchchi
A vesak lantern competition will be held at the Vesak Zone near Diyawanna Lake.
In Anuradhapura, Vesak zones and lanterns have yet to materialise due to rains.
However, there have been many requests from dansal organisers for sites near Sri Maha Bodiya and Ruwanweli Maha Seya.
In Galle, a pandal is being built in front of the Samanala grounds. Ayurveda doctors have planned a bakthi gee recital in front of Galle town hall with the participation of singer Edward Jayakody.
The Galle Divisional Secretary, Indika Samarakoon, said lanterns will be
displayed in the Galle Divisional Secretariat area.
A businessman has organised a dansala on the day after Vesak (May 24), and the Vajira Abeywardena Foundation has planned another dansala at Kadawath-Sathara on May 25.
Dematagoda
Savindu Gallage
| 70 children to be ordained as student monks A ceremony to ordain 70 children as Samanera monks organised by the Amarapura Maha Nikaya will take place at the historic Kalutara Bodhiya on May 26. The event has been organised by the Trustees of the Kalutara Bodhiya under the programme ‘Sasunketha Aswaddaum’ to increase the number of ordination of student monks. Last year too 60 children were ordained as student monks at a similar event and they are currently continuing their education. Lantern vendors say prices are high Many are preparing to mark the Vesak festival despite persistent economic hardships, and vendors have set up temporary stalls on roadsides in expectation of more sales of decorations over the next few days. Chaturika Dilhani, who sells Vesak lanterns near the BRC grounds at Havelock Road, said that raw material prices are lower and yet selling prices are high compared with before the coronavirus pandemic. She said the price of Vesak lanterns has been raised by Rs 50, Rs 75, and Rs 100 according to the size. She sells lanterns made by her family members.  Deepika Hemamali Other vendors also predicted higher prices. Chaminda Pushpakumara, another street vendor who had been selling Vesak lanterns at Kirulapone for over 20 years, said people are not likely to buy more because celebrations will be more in the provinces. “If the state celebration was in Colombo, state institutes would have more decorations, and those decorations would inspire people to decorate their houses as well,” he said. Deepika Hemamali, who sells Buddhist flags, said that she is running out of stocks as sales have been brisk. | |
| All roads lead to Matale for Vesak WeekThe national Vesak festival will be held at Dharmaraja Pirivena in Matale, Buddhasasana, religious Cultural affairs secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana said. The national Vesak week is from May 21 to 27. The Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, will launch the programme on May 21 at Dharmaraja Pirivena, he said. The PM will declare the Dharmaraja Pirivena archaeological exhibition open. An ‘aloka pujawa’ will be held at Kumbiyangoda Vidyasekara Privena Viharaya. The Vesak zone at Matale Vihara Road, featuring 58 lanterns, will be opened there after. Two pandals have been set up in Matale town. The May 21 celebrations will conclude with Bakthi Gee, hosted by the tri-forces, police, and civil defence forces. On May 22, the government will carry out tree-planting events at Pansalathanna Anuruddha Arana Vihara and Naula Pilihudugolla Purana Viharaya. A bakthi geetha programme involving children of all faiths would be held on the same day. The main event at Dharmaraja Privena will be attended by the President on May 23. A separate programme of religious activities will be held.  Preparatations underway in Matale. Pic by Ravindra Viraj Abeysiri On May 24, a procession including representatives of all religions will be held from Matale Marimuttu Amman Hindu Kovil to Matale Sri Shakya Sinharama. On the same day, Tower Hall Foundation will host a Bakthi Gee programme. On May 25, the Government has planned 15 health-related programmes in the Matale District as well as a dengue eradication programme. Following that, on May 26 and 27, spiritual programmes and Bikku and Sil Matha training programmes would be held. Meanwhile, the Department of Buddhist Affairs has planned to carry out repairs and archaeological preservation on more than 78 Buddhist temples at a cost of Rs 26.6 million. Cultural events will also be held. |
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