Siddhalepa promotes family harmony at worship

Saturday, 5 November 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The ritual of lighting incense sticks as an act of homage to the deities and the practice of purifying and cleansing of our abode is a timeless tradition in Sri Lanka.

The Siddhalepa Group has given fresh significance to this age old practice by inventing an incense stick holder which the Group is now in the process of donating to every temple in the country.

The Anarva incense stick holder donation project is the latest of the Group’s series of countless CSR activities which have won them Gold recognitions in Sri Lanka and international acclaim over the years and reflect the Group’s religious and cultural ethos.

The nine stemmed incense holder with a tray/pot at the end of each stem are at different levels and depict the Nava Arahadhi BuduGuna.

“An entire family - father, mother and children and even grand parents could stand around this incense holder and light their incense sticks together as it is made to enable many people to be around the holder at the same time. As some of the trays are at a lower level, small children can easily access these trays on their own without having to be carried to reach the holder,” the Group’s Chairman, Deshabandu, Dr. Victor Hettigoda said.

“It is with great thought and care that we donated this new structure to the temples with a view to enhance and preserve one of our timeless traditions of lighting incense together as a family at worship in temples,” he added.

Burning incense, releases a fragrant smoke which pervades the environment with its sweet, heady aroma. The practice of lighting incense is embedded in our culture and invariably used in religious worship, to ward off bad smells, repel insects, in spirituality, aromatherapy and meditation and for simple pleasure.

Incense sticks contain a large proportion of positive energy, fighting negative energies and purifying the environment. It is also said to lift our spirits and transform the energetic vibrations of a room.

Whatever purpose it is used for, incense sticks are an important commodity in Sri Lankan households. Two varieties of incense sticks Anarva Samadhi and Anarva Nisala were introduced recently and are fast gaining popularity.

The incense market has grown and its usage has changed from the traditional use in places of worship and homes to spas, lifestyle stores and is now even as a purifier in the common man’s mode of transport, the three wheelers.