Offering of alms to the Venerable Members of the Maha Sangha
Donating meals for the destitute
Vesak Pandals and Lanterns decorate the Embassy & Sri Lanka Residence
Washington, May 28, 2013: Vesak was celebrated in Washington DC on Thursday May 23 at the Embassy of Sri Lanka.
Embassy staff under the patronage of Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya organized an almsgiving to the venerable members of the maha sangha . Chief Incumbent of the Washington Buddhist Vihara Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayake thero , Chief Incumbent of the Maryland Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Katugastota Uparatana Nayake thero , together with Buddhist monks from Pennsylvania Vihara and Mahamevnava Asapuwa in Gaithersburg attended the ceremony.
Following the offering of alms, chanting of pirith, was conducted by the venerable monks to invoke blessings on His Excellency the President and the people of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans living in the US and to the whole world. In a sermon, Master of Meditation of the Washington Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Mandawala Pannawansa thero elaborated on the significance of Vesak and Buddhist merits of Dana(Giving), Seela (Abstaining from evil), and Bhavana (Meditation).
Representatives of Sri Lankan Associations in the greater Washington area and community leaders of other faiths were also in attendance.
The Embassy staff also organized a mobile Dansala , free distribution of food, for destitute people, observing the spirit of giving (dana) connected with the noble Vesak day. Towards this end, cooked lunch packets were distributed among homeless persons in the Washington metro area.
Both the Embassy and the Sri Lanka Residence in Washington were decorated with Buddhist flags , Vesak Pandals, and illuminated with Vesak lanterns in keeping with traditions of the festival.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka as a tradition celebrates the important days of all four major religions practiced in Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan community living in the United States. Vesak is the most important religious festival for all Buddhists, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Lord Gautama Buddha.
