Sri Lanka celebrates largest Buddhist festival in grandeur

Sri Lanka today is celebrating the most important Buddhist event that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha.

This year the State Vesak festival was held in the central hill capital of Kandy with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President paid homage to the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy today and received blessings from the Maha Sangha.

A special Vesak commemoration stamp and a first day cover released to mark the completion of 2600th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Anniversary was offered to the Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakitha Thera at the ceremony.

President Rajapaksa felicitated ten parents who have offered their children to Buddhasasana to be ordained as samenera bikkus (trainee monks). The winners of All Ceylon Damma School skills competition also received awards at the ceremony.

The country was lit up with electrically illuminated pandals (thoranas) that tell the stories of Buddha's life and lanterns while Dansals offered free food to the hungry and tired.

Sri Lanka's First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa also participated in offering food at a Vesak Bath Dansala organized by the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Colombo yesterday (05).

Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana & Religious Affairs A.D.S. Gunawardena, Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake, and the Diyawadana Nilame (custodian) of the Temple of Tooth, Nilanga Dela Bandra also participated in the State Vesak festival in Kandy.