Sri Lankans Observe Vesak – A Time for Contemplation & Reflection

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Last month saw Buddhists in Sri Lanka observe the important festival known as Vesak which fell on 18th May. This special event is commemorated on the full moon day in May and is a time that devotees remember Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and “parinirvana”. While this festival usually features lots of brightly coloured lanterns and “dansals” to share food, this year it was more of a sombre affair due to the recent Easter Sunday bombings.

Nevertheless, Buddhist devotees still visited temples for religious observances; these sacred sites can be found throughout the commercial capital and are within easy reach of beach hotels in Colombo including the likes of Berjaya Hotel Colombo. Foreign travellers thus had the chance to visit such temples and witness some of the traditions and rituals performed during Vesak.