Vesak Celeberation in Sri Lanka
Significance of Vesak in the Buddhist World
"Vesak" is the festival, which is celebrated with high enthusiasm and elaborate preparations. Basically this is a religious festival commemorating the birth of Buddha the founder of Buddhism. This festival is celebrated in all the countries where Buddhists live in considerable number. These include India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Tibet, Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. However the name of the festival vary widely. "Vesak" is a word in Singhalese, the language of the majority Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The main emphasis in celebrating this festival is to commemorate the events in Buddha's life namely his birth, enlightenment and passing away. Generally, the purpose of festival remains same all over the world, the way it is celebrated defer.
In determining the day of vesak, traditional lunar calendar is followed. It does not always coincide with a specific date of the western calendar, but it falls on the full moon day of the month of May.
A rotating vesak lantern with changing colour lights.
A Vesak decoration created with colour electric lights.
Another vesak pandal
As it is mainly a religious event, for devout Buddhists, religious observances form the main activities of the festival. They generally wear white dress and go to the temple and participate in the traditional ceremonies there. Many of them spend the whole day in the temple and reaffirm their determination to follow the teachings of Buddha. Other than the exclusive religious aspects of the festival, the Buddhists of Sri Lanka, decorate their houses and public places and arrange for various cultural events to bring happiness to everyone on that day.
Vesak Lanterns
People make Lanterns, which are generally referred to as vesak lanterns, of various shapes and sizes incorporating coloured electric lights. These lanterns are displayed in private houses as well as in streets and public places. Huge lanterns with considerable artistic appeal attract many people to the places where they are displayed.
Vesak Pandals
Another feature of the festival decoration is large decorative structures, "known as vesak pandal", placed at important locations such as road junctions. They normally depict events from Buddha's life and elaborately decorated with coloured electric bulbs forming dynamic patterns. These highly creative works never fail to attract thousands of people to these locations.
External Links
- Vesak At Sambodhi
See some excellent photos of vesak celebrations held at Sambothi in Sri Lanka in 2006. - Vesak festival
Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. First comes the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in Nepal which took place under the arbor of Sat trees where queen Mahamaya - Vesak - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Devotees are expected to listen to talks given by monks. On this day monks will recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, to invoke peace and happiness for the Government and the people. - Festivals
If any single day in the Buddhist calender is of equal importance to the Christmas day in Christian calender, it has to be the day of Wesak. All over the country, temples, in the villages, and in the cities, announce the dawn of Wesak, with peals of
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