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by DAVEENA PAKIANATHAN

At Borella

Vesak in Sri Lanka this year has taken a special aura of glamorous splendour with Colombo city glowing like a spectacular pandal with a melange of lights, lanterns and colourful parades dotting the cityscape.

Even the weather gods, who just two days ago caused havoc with gale force winds and incessant rains, appeared to have turned benevolent, as the thunder showers stayed away, on day one.

At Temple Trees

Millions of devotees across the Island flocked to temples during the two-day holiday to pray and honour Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death more than 2000 years ago. In the evening traditional Vesak lanterns and oil lamps of all colours were lit across the country depicting the enlightenment of Buddha. Thousands flocked to Colombo to view the display of colourful pandals,lanterns and other illuminations found in abundance and also to sample the varied fare offered in the more than 200 dansalas this year.

The first prize winner of the Vesak Lantern Competition organised by ANCL K. Mahinda Lal of Angoda, Himbutana who won Rs. 125,000 .

One of the novelties this Vesak was perhaps the plethora of traditional lanterns in varying sizes, shapes and shades made of material that were wholly unique.

The cynosure for many touring Colombo the past two days, were the nine large pandals in Borella, Totalanga, Peliyagoda, Dematagoda, Bauddaloka Mawatha, BMICH and Fort. But the centre of celebrations was along Bauddaloka Mawatha, where visitors flocked to see both the decoration and the spectacular parade.

The pandal at the BMICH was opened by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who later went sightseeing in the City with visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen.

The Pandal at the Pettah Manning Market.

There was also a grand Vesak lantern competition organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. to add a special touch to the Vesak celebration. 

On show and vying for supremacy were a fascinating array of lanterns which showed not only artistic flare, but also innovative thinking and a willingness to experiment with material that is neither tried nor tested.

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