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National Vesak week in Jaffna in May

23 Apr 2021

  • Main festival at Nagadeepa Temple

  • Buddhasasana Ministry confirms dansals, pandols

  • Mass gatherings to be restricted

  The national Vesak festival is to be held on 23 May at the Nagadeepa Temple in Jaffna, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Prof. Kapila Gunawardana said that the national Vesak week would commence on 23 May and continue till 29 May. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the chief guests of the opening ceremony at the Nagadeepa Purana (Ancient) Raja Maha Viharaya. According to Gunawardana, despite the Covid-19 country situation, the Vesak festival would be celebrated with alms giving stalls (dansals) and pandols (thoranas). “However, we will be doing everything according to the health guidelines which we are yet to be informed of, so that everything would go as planned.” Meanwhile, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, speaking to The Morning, said that restrictions would be imposed on mass gatherings. “New health guidelines would be released soon related to the national Vesak festival,“ he added. One of the most important Buddhist festivals, Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.  


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