bobbyhanse

Vesak festival

Posted by bobbyhanse | 13th March 2009

Sri Lanka celebrates Vesak - a thrice-blessed day for Buddhists as it commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining Enlightenment and his passing away into Nirvana.

This is a day spent in reflective prayer while lanterns made from bamboo frames and covered in coloured paper are hung inside every home and incredible illuminated displays decorate the streets. Devoted Buddhists pray in temples from dawn until dusk, then take part in processions as the sun sets, visiting the temples again in the evening to hear monks read stories from the Buddhist texts.

Stalls on the roadside distribute free refreshments to passers-by and there are some fantastic mime and street theatre performances, staged on tall platforms throughout the cities and towns near the temples.
Vesak is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May. It is the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals, almost a Christmas, Easier and Whitsun rolled into one as it

Continued | BookingSriLanka

Wiki Travel Guide

bobbyhanse hasn't been active in the wiki travel guide yet. Have you?