Vesak Day | May the Triple Gem Bless you all!

Vesak Full Moon Poya day is the most sacred and significant day for Buddhist as it marks the Birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. So, we celebrated these two days with a deep spiritual understanding as a country.

It's not just the temples organize special programs, but the whole community gather up in harmony and generosity.

Usually, devotees visit temples, engage in religious activities, listen to sermons, meditate or observe Eight Precepts, participate in almsgiving, etc. just like in the other Poya days. But apart from those, nights become colorful with Vesak lanterns, thoran and other decorations.

It all becomes festive with various colors, and shapes. I can remember in my childhood, and still waiting for the Vesak season to make them using bamboo sticks. This has a different vibe.

At Yudaganawa Temple

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So, on day 01, 12th of May, I visited few temples in the evening with my family. My parents, wife, and families of two sisters accompanied me. First we went to the Yudaganawa Temple; an ancient and sacred religious place in my home town. It's origin dated back to 2BC and currently plays a significant role for the spiritual development of the community.

As yo can see the entrance is decorated with flags, and lanterns and the place is crowded with people.

Engaging in Religious observances

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First we light lamps, incent sticks, offer flowers and observes five Precepts as well. We ask for blessings, and travel around the stupa thrice as well.

I couldn't tell you that there's another tradition called, dansalas/ free food stalls. Communities organize these offering meals and refreshment to the devotees and travelers. Cool drinks, rice and curry, grains, tea, hoppers, bread, ice-cream like different items are given according to the strength of the people. Generally they are lined with people.

So, we were lucky to get threated by a few on the way as well.

Us

So, in the night we went to the Mahamevnawa Monastery. The lights were on, we could see the colorful vibe in the Vesak. They have nicely decorated the temple, and as it's a modern one near a small canal and paddy fields, there is a different kind of peacefulness and calmness on the location.

As we entered soup was given by the villagers, and it has bein from the morning. They are hot and delicious. We could hear the sermons, and there were hundreds of devotees in the location.

At Mahamevnawa Monastery

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Once again we did the rituals there as well, and took some to feel the calmness in the night sky.

On our way home, the roadside were colorful as lanterns, lamps, and decoration are on every house and it's good to see that people carry the both spiritual and cultural aspects of the festival.

Vesak Lantern

So, that's the end of another wonderful day.

May the teachings of Buddha inspire you to find inner peace and happiness and Triple Gem Bless you all! Happy Vesak Day!

Thank you.
Best Regards!