With the Avurudu buzz fading and the joys of Vesak seeping out, the atmosphere has greatly changed. Vesak is the Full Moon day of May the most revered day for the vast majority of Buddhists worldwide. the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha happened on the Vesak Full Moon day.
Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born while his mother was travelling in the Lumbini garden under a Sal tree. The Buddha’s Enlightenment is the second event honoured on Vesak Day. Prince Siddhartha renounced all his belongings and left his father’s mansion in quest of the truth.
Having looked for several years, he finally reached enlightenment while sitting beneath a Bodhi tree in an Indian town named Bodha Gaya. The third event celebrated on Vesak Full Moon Poya day, is the Buddha’s Parinirvana (death) took place in Kushinagar amid a serene grove of Sal trees, with his follower monks there. His right foot was on top of the other while he sat on a couch, and his right hand was holding up his head.
While this is a time when most Buddhist engage in religious activities, and participate in giving and various charitable ventures, the entire country gets together to celebrate the wonder of Vesak.
This in fact is a commemoration of the teachings of the Buddha, that has reached millions around the world, including the message to spread kindness, peace, and goodwill. The festival of Vesak is closely associated with the culture of Sri Lanka, due to the close symbiosis religion and culture has had for generations.
As it is appropriate to make a special effort to help those in need and bring happiness to others during one’s lifetime, most Buddhists spend the Vesak Poya day in meditation and doing good actions. The culture of going to observe ‘sil’ with your family members, getting together with your children and neighbors to make lanterns, and feeding the hungry by organizing ‘dansal’ are closely related to the culture surrounding this festival.
While everyone is in a generous spirit, we reached out to some of our favorite celebrities to see how they are planning to spend Vesak and here’s what we found out:
Ashani Dinuththara: “In previous years, I celebrated Vesak in Anuradhapura. But this year, I am going to Colombo to celebrate Vesak. Every year I go to the temple for some much-needed spiritual bliss and I am planning to do the same this year as well. I am ready to make beautiful Vesakkudu at home. In addition, I am also eager to see the Vesak wonders around Colombo at night.”
Dinara Punchihewa: “Although I’m a Christian and Vesak isn’t a festival I celebrate, I try to join my neighbors in lighting oil lamps and lanterns. When the night falls, it’s so nice to see the shining lights. We also always try to go to an ice cream ‘dansala’ close by too. It’s always a lovely time for family and friends to get together. This year I’m going to Anuradhapura with my best friends and we are hoping to visit a few historical sites.”
Charitha Priyadharshani Peiris: Vesak is a very traditional ceremony, which is in fact an ingrained part of our culture. In the previous years with the many complications, people couldn’t celebrate properly, but I believe this year, everyone is getting ready for it.
The activities surrounding the Vesak festival are about enriching people’s generous spirit and bringing about unity. For example, making lanterns, conducting ‘dansal’, all of these things bring people together. I am very much looking forward to embracing the beauty of Vesak this year as well.
However, I think we should not limit our unity and generosity to just Vesak, we much nurture ourselves and our children to develop into better human beings. It is like my husband’s song,
“Vesak kaletai kageth pinkam,
kata pennada ane manda,
nambu rakeemai nivan dakeemai,
ekamaga yanne kohomada manda…”
Saranga Dissasekara: This year, Dinakshi’s family and I plan to donate books and stationery to kids. We usually do almsgivings and other donations celebrating Vesak but this year we thought this was the best. I think the generous spirit is very much embedded in our culture and even in the whole premise of Vesak.
We are a very giving nation, when disaster strikes, our country comes together and gives and takes care of one another, I think growing up a Buddhist I have also practiced this since childhood. However, I think it is important to stay united and help one another despite what religious festival we are celebrating.
Achintha Kalana: “We have not celebrated Vesak in about three years, so I am very excited to celebrate Vesak this time! I hope to organize a ‘dansal’ with my students and go to see Vesak things as well. Hope this Vesak will be better.