Vesak month begins

By D.C. Ranatunga

May is Vesak month – the month of special significance to Buddhists.

The holiest day of the year for Buddhists, Vesak Full Moon Poya day commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of Gotama Buddha. Buddhists observe ‘ata sil’ throughout the day with most devotees waiting on until the next morning to end ‘sil’.

This year Vesak day falls on Thursday, 7 May.

A special feature of Vesak is the erection of pandals (‘thoran’) pictorially depicting the life of the Buddha. They are beautifully lit up with the story of each picture being explained through the sound system which also plays appropriate songs with Buddhist themes.

Looking back over the years, as youngsters we used to spend several hours visiting one pandal to the other. In the era when there was no television, the most colourful pandals were publicised in the newspapers. While pandals were erected at central spots I remember two of the most attractive pandals were at Borella and Grandpass. These were built every year with fresh themes.

Another special feature was Vesak ‘dansal’ distributing food free to everyone passing through. Those who walked passing the ‘dansal’ were invited to have a meal and almost all obliged.

It was amazing to see the quantity of food that was being cooked and offered to passers-by. Weeks ahead of the day youngsters planning the ‘dansal’ went round collecting funds. Everyone responded knowing well that it was for a worthy cause.

Youngsters manning the ‘dansal’ covered the road, stopped each vehicle passing by and offered at least a cup of soup or a soft drink. Hardly anybody refused to oblige.

Vesak thus trained the young to follow the Buddha’s words on the merits of giving.   

Publishing Vesak Annuals was a regular feature with articles relating to Buddhism. This was a collectors’ item for most readers.