Vesak Celebration and Sil Programme at London Heathrow Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple
Vesak Day is the most significant day in Buddhist calendar, as it is the day Buddhists commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment and the entering of Parinibbana of the Lord Buddha. Every year, Buddhists throughout the world gather wholeheartedly to perform various meritorious activities to recollect the purity, wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. This year it fell on the 6th of May 2012.
As a mark of respect we also celebrated this great day by practicing ūĀmisa Pūja- offerings and Pratipatti Pūja- practising the Dharma. The day’s programme started at 7.00am, where alms were offered to the Mahasanga and devotees by Mr Janaka Kumarasinge,Mr Pradeep Gunasekara and their Friends. At 8 am Ven Wanduraba Kassapa, Head of the Athula Dassana Buddhist Temple administered the eight precepts and admonition followed by a short meditation.
The Mahasanga Venarable Monks gathered food by Pindapatha as they did in earlier years. The Lunch was offered to the Upasa and Upasika’s By Mr Buddhika Patiraja, Sarath Perera and other devotees.
A Dhamma sermon was given by Venarable Homagama Kondanga Thero and the speeches were given by Mr Sugath Senavirathna & Darshana Ranmuthuge. The Nawa arahadi Buduguna Pujawa was conducted by Venarable Wanduraba Kassapa Thero at 6 PM. The Vesak Lantern with 60 other small lantern were open to the public at 7 pm. This lantern was made within 4 days. The Vesak lantern will be showing until 13th of May.
