Ricky Laxa
Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Embassy of Sri Lankan in Ku¬wait in cooperation with We are Sri Lankans in Ku¬wait will be holding a two days religious celebra¬tion in observance of “Poson” or the triumphant arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Four thousand Sri Lankan devotees are expected to grace the oc¬casion.

Charges de Affaires of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait Sunil Premaratna said that the occasion is momentous because of the strong re¬ligious significance and value among Buddhists in Sri Lanka and that Sri Lankans in Kuwait are invit¬ed to participate in the two days of adoration and contemplation. CDA Premaratna added that the organization of the event has been spearheaded by President of the organization Ajith Caldera and members. Series of preaching pertaining the pre¬cepts of Buddhism with ceremonial procession of offerings, singing of religious songs and food will be served to everyone.

On the second day of the celebration in the evening a popular cleric from Sri Lanka will preach on the religious values and blessings derived from the celebration. Premarata also added that the em¬bassy surroundings will be decorated with colorful lanterns depicting the traditional adornment of streets and temples in Sri Lanka.

The Poson full moon Poya day on June 15 marks the arrival of Buddhism in the country in 306 BC from India and this year it is of special significance to the Buddhists of Sri Lanka as it falls within the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi com¬memorative year.

Buddhism and Sri Lanka has a close relation for centuries. It is quite a task to exactly pinpoint the time and date when the Buddhism started flour¬ishing in the island but it is generally thought that Emperor Ashoka had sent his son Crown Prince Mahendra and his daughter Sanghamitra to the is¬land for the introduction of Buddhism there. Poson Festival in Sri Lanka celebrates the introduction of Buddhism in the island. In this island country, Bud¬dhism belongs to the Theravada tradition. Most of the Sinhalese people (around seventy one percent) are followers of Buddhism.
And though now the number of regular practi¬tioners of this religion has dwindled, in Sri Lanka, Buddhism is still flourishing strongly. Theravada has been the major religion in the island since soon after its introduction by Prince Mahindra during the reign of Sri Lanka’s King Devanampi¬yatissa. During his reign, a bodhi tree sapling was brought to Sri Lanka and came to be known as Sri Maha Bodhi.

Poson Festival has the erection of pandals, almsgiving to pilgrims and religious observances as part of the rituals of this festival. The festivities are mostly centered in the sacred monastic com¬plex of Mihintale. Buddhist people in Sri Lanka believe that Sri Lanka observes the purest form of Buddhism in the world today. Some believe that the Sri Lankan God Saman, has been appointed as the protector of Buddhism in the island by none other than Lord Buddha himself. On Poson Festival day the main centers of celebration are Anuradhapura and Mihintale. Several processions are held in many parts of the country to mark the visit of Arahat Mahinda Thera (Prince Mahindra) who introduced Buddhism to the pearl island. All men, young and old take part in the solemn festivi¬ties that are carried on for the day. Since religion is the central point of this festival, there should be no element of surprise in the fact that it is the Lord himself and his teachings that are remembered with reverence. “The two day festival is about achieving peace of mind most especially during this time of the year when life is hard and weather somehow contributes to making our existence dif¬ficult. I urge everyone to join us in the observance of the festival and together achieve inner peace and eliminate stress, mental and emotional trou¬bles by listening to the preaching of our endeared priests who came to grace our festival,” concluded  CDA Premaratna.