Discovering the rich legacy of Buddhism..
International Buddhist Festival:
Indeewara THILAKARATHNE
International workshop on ‘Buddhism and films’
A three day workshop (from May 10-May 12, 2009) will be a prestigious
event with a high academic input to it. Local and foreign scholars will
form the panel and main speakers.
Although the focus of the workshop is primarily on Buddhist themes
and communication, general subject matters such as script writing, film
editing etc. will also be covered during the workshop.
An eminent panel of resource personnel will take part in the
workshop. |
The International Buddhist Festival which is being held at the BMICH
from May 9 to May 12, 2009, offers a unique opportunity for Sri Lankans
as well as foreigners to discover the rich legacy of Buddhism.
The Festival will set the precedence for the Buddhist Resurgence that
will take place in 2011 the year which marks the 2600 anniversary of the
Enlightenment by ascetic Siddhartha.
Homespun tradition of Sri Lankan Vesak
Over the years Sri Lanka has evolved its own tradition of Vesak with
its unique traits of Sri Lankan culture. The Vesak Full Moon Day marks
the Birth, Enlightenment and the Passing Away of the Buddha. Sri Lankan
Buddhists celebrate the day with colourful religious ceremonies on one
hand and practising the Dhamma on the other.The serenity of the evening
of the Vesak is further enhanced by the flickering flames of earthenware
oil lamps which are arranged in different deco from cajan-thatched huts
of the farmers to the Buddhist temples and the street corner and the
gateway to the temples are also lit up with oil lamps.
Chithrapata Dansala / Buddhist Film Festival
Chithrapata Dansala, the exhibition of local and foreign films on
Buddhist themes will be a novel feature where the visitors could watch
films. The Buddhist Film Festival is made up of three segments; local
and international film festival local short film competition,
international short film competition, mobile short film competitions and
Feature Film Exhibitions and International workshop on Buddhism and
Films.
It will also be a venue where would be filmmaker will meet would be
sponsors and financiers. The festival will have a special booth, where
the would-be-film makers who could meet would-be financiers and
sponsors. With the inaugural film festival, the Buddhist Film Festival
intends to expand its scope making it the international film festival
for films on Buddhist themes. The festival has already attracted a large
number of foreign films produced on Buddhist themes in addition to a
considerable number of scripts.
The festival organisers are of the view that by 2011 Sri Lanka will
be a hotspot on the international cultural map for filmmaking
particularly on Buddhist themes. |
In countryside, one could see the devotees in immaculate white
observing Sil (precepts) and reading out ancient Buddhist texts such as
Sadharmaratnavaliya (a devotional book full of stories) and Jataka
Stories (Buddhist parables) to the eagerly listening children. Apart
from intense religious ceremonies, Pandols depicting the Jataka Stories
(Stories from Buddha’s previous existences), puppet shows and drama on
Buddhist themes have also become part and parcel of the celebrations.
Another significant aspect of Sri Lankan Vesak is Dansala (food and
beverage stalls).
Dansala set up by community organisations and diverse Buddhist youth
clubs in the villages as well as in cities and suburbs, serve visitors
and devotees with food and beverages free of charge during the Vesak.
Vesak 2009- birth of a festive tradition
The Vesak 2009 will, for the first time, set a convention for a
unique cultural festival making Sri Lanka the focal point of
celebrations. The activities include electronic pandals, water -
fountains forming a stupa, devotional songs by film stars and other
devotees, puppet shows , E-Vesak Card Exhibition, book and DVD fare.
The other principal activities include Vegetarian food festival,
exhibition of art works and photographs or Buddhist themes, display of
replicas of Buddhist sculpture and architecture, display of old Vesak
cards, exhibition of Ola-leaf books; the process of making ola-leaf
books from the treatment of the ola-leaf to blackening of the letter and
meticulous decorations will be demonstrated live at the venues.
The ola-leaf books preserve the doctrine of Buddha for generations.
Earlier the doctrine was handed down from one generation to another by
word of mouth.
Jumbo screens will be set up to enable the visitors to see and hear
themselves what is going on, from any location in the festival grounds.
Special emphasis should be placed on a specific item of high
significance.
Live performances at this Buddhist festival include a Ballet on a
Buddhist theme, dramas by schoolchildren and the recital of Buddhist
devotional songs. The children accompanying adults will be especially
fascinated by puppet shows, presented by traditional groups, who possess
high skills in this field. “Heaven and Hell” will be yet another area
that will especially impress the children. The principle sponsors for
the International Buddhist Festival are Light Asia Foundation, BMICH and
the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.
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