The Embassy of Sri Lanka to Belgium and Luxembourg and the Mission to the European Union celebrated Vesak on 25 May 2014, at the Sri Lanka Residence. Ambassadors and diplomats from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Mongolia, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, as well as officials from the Belgian Foreign Ministry and the European Union, and a large number of Sri Lankans living in Belgium participated at the event. The Sri Lanka Residence was decorated with Buddhist flags, a mini Vesak Pandol, colourful Vesak lanterns and the decorations presented by several Buddhist countries which gave an ambience of temple and Shrine atmosphere.
Ven. Murungagasyaye Gnanissara Nanayaka Thero of Jethavana Vihara in Paris and Monk of Wat Thai Dhammaram Temple in Brussels conducted the religious ceremony including the Buddha Pooja, a Dhamma Sermon and invoking blessings by chanting Pirith followed by a brief meditation programme.
The second half of the programme began with the lighting of the Vesak lanterns and inaugurating the illumination by Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Labour & Labour Relations of Sri Lanka, followed by screening of a short film titled “7 Wonders of the Buddhist World”. The film focused on the life and teaching of Lord Buddha and seven sacred places of Buddhist World including Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium & Luxembourg and Head of Mission to the European Union, P.M. Amza, recalled the joint efforts made in the United Nations in 1999, by a group of countries, to gain international recognition for the Day of Vesak. The Ambassador also said, Sri Lanka takes pride in sowing the seeds of this initiative of granting international recognition of the Vesak day by first expressing it at the International Buddhist Conference hosted by Sri Lanka in 1998. While thanking those countries represented at the function at Sri Lanka Residence, he further said that during this initiative, the world body was reminded that the philosophy of Buddhism and the teaching of Lord Buddha have been enshrined in the UN Charter. He also said that present Buddhist flag was originally designed in Colombo, Sri Lanka in the year 1885 and it was first hoisted in public in Dipaduttamarama Viharaya in Kotahena, in Sri Lanka on the Day of Vesak that year.
A brief cultural program symbolizing the diversity with which the millions of Buddhists around the world commemorate Vesak was brought in by a group of Sri Lankans and Mission Staff by singing devotional songs (Bakthi Gee) and the Indian Community presenting “Mangala Gatha” and traditional Indian devotional songs which glorifies the deeds of Lord Buddha.
At the end of the days programme, the gathering also had the opportunity to enjoy a sumptuous Sri Lankan vegetarian meal.
