In Puttalam district - an example of coexistence - the heart of the celebrations desired by the government for the most important annual Buddhist festival. Activities include a drug prevention program and blood donations. Card. Ranjith: "This anniversary elevates everyone to righteousness and a holy existence."
Colombo (AsiaNews) - To mark the Buddhist festival of Vesak, religious and charitable programs are being held throughout Sri Lanka this week.
Vesak is the most important and sacred festival for Buddhists around the world. It falls on the full moon day of the month of May and is celebrated as the day of the thrice-blessed recurrence of the most important events in Buddha's life: the birth in Lumbini, the attainment of enlightenment in Buddhagaya and the entry into Mahaparinirvana (Death) in Kushinagar.
The United Nations General Assembly, in Resolution 54/115 of 1999, also internationally recognized Vesak Day to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the world's oldest religions, has made to the world for more than two and a half millennia.
In Sri Lanka, the main government-sponsored festival is being held at this time in Puttalam district at the Kebellewala Sri Rathanasiri Bhikkhu and Maha Pirivena Training Center in Chilaw, with the theme "Discerning Right as Wrong and Wrong as Right Leads to States of Woe."
This is the first time a Vesak state festival has been held in Puttalam district, where people from different ethnic groups and religions live in harmony.
"The Vesak 2023 state festival is a blessing for Puttalam district," the head of the local temple, Ven Halpanwila Palitha Thero, comments to AsiaNews. "I am very happy to receive this great blessing. Along with other activities such as the exhibition of the beautiful Vesak pandols and lanterns and meditations, we have also promoted an environmental protection program, one on drug prevention and blood donations."
The Archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcolm Ranjith, wished Sri Lanka's top Sangha leaders and all brothers and sisters in Buddhism a Vesak festival filled with religious faith and joy.
"On this great occasion, all Sri Lankans pray for a great feast of Vesak that will elevate all to righteousness and holy existence," reads the message sent to the Buddhist community on the occasion.
Card. Ranjith adds that it is the duty of all of us to practice brotherhood and the tendency toward mutual acceptance among Sri Lanka's ethnic groups and different religions, further developing the virtues of Dharma.