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Giribhanda pooja:

Donation of essential items for village temples

The fourth Giribhanda pooja donating essential items for Buddhist temples organised by the Thalagala Sri Siddhartha Foundation to help 180 temples in Ampara will be held on September 11 at Mangalaramaya Thalagala.

Ven. Thalagala Sumanarathana Nayaka Thera of Mangalaramaya and the Sri Siddhartha Foundation said that the objective of the Giribhanda pooja is to pay gratitude to the bhikkhus in the remote villages for the hardships they undergo, provide pirikara to temples in remote areas while encouraging the people to contribute to the Giribhanda pooja even during the conflict, the Siddhartha Foundation rendered assistance for remote villages by conducting shramadanas.

Bhikkhus go in procession to collect items for the pooja.

The bhikkhus in the remote villages faced hardships due to human and animal conflicts. Unfavourable climatic conditions, shortage of infrastructure, lack of improved transport facilities and income shortfalls are some of the difficulties the people in Ampara district had to undergo due to the conflict in the last three decades.

Therefore, the bhikkhus in the area too had to live in fear and oppression. On numerous occasions they fell victim to terrorist attacks.

Due to the poverty on the part of the villagers in the area it is difficult to maintain the temples.

Therefore, temples in village areas experience a shortage of essential buildings, food, robes, kitchen utensils and plates. Despite such drawbacks, the bhikkhus engage themselves with conviction and emotion in promoting religious values and cultural activities.

Offering 500 pirikaras (gifts) to bhikkhus, publishing a souvenir in appreciation of their activities, awarding remembrance, plaques, co-ordinating temples in difficult areas encouraging donors to help temples monthly or annually, assisting educational and health promotional activities; building and renovating temples offering katina robes to bhikkhus, promoting Dhamma schools and nursery schools in temples assisting poor villagers, would be launched under the pinkama, said the Nayaka Thera.

Historians believe that the inaugural Giribhanda pooja was held by King Mahadathika Mahanaaga and there had never been a Giribhanda pooja subsequently.

The Nayaka Thera said that the first pooja was held in 2003 for 25 temples in Thanthirimale, the second in 2006 for 80 temples in Trincomalee and the third in 2008 for 110 temples at Dimbulagala.

King Mahadathika Mahanaaga who built the Sela Ceitiya in Mihintale consecrated it to the bhikkhus and conducted the Giribhanda pooja.

According to history the King also lit lamps in boats surrounding the country in the sea. In addition all the inmates in prisons were released while dansalas were held to treat the poor and needy.

During that period, roads from Malvathu Oya to Mihintale were cleaned and the feet of 3,000 bhikkhus were washed at Malvathu Oya. Carpets were laid on the road and the bhikkhus were brought to Mihintale where they were offered a mountain of essential items, says the Mahawansa.

One of the most appreciated poojas mentioned in the Mahawansa is the Giribhanda pooja.

 

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