This year to celebrate the auspicious holiday of Vesak in Russia the Embassy in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Business and Professionals Society and Sri Lankan students organized a series of events.
On 26 May 2021 Buddhist rituals took place at the Embassy with the participation of the Embassy staff. On 27 May 2021, the Embassy held a Vesak lanterns workshop for Russian pupils of Moscow school No. 1250 together with a presentation on Sri Lankan cultural values and the history of the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Twenty school children and staff of the school participated and enjoyed the process of making the traditional “atapattama” lanterns.
The celebrations continued on 29 May 2021 with a Damma Programme followed by an alms giving ceremony to commemorate the beloved relatives who recently died, organized by the Sri Lankan Business and Professional Society in Russia in collaboration with the Embassy in the Myanmar Temple in Moscow.
The celebrations culminated by the event held at the Embassy premises on the same day in the evening. Around 80 people gathered in the Embassy to celebrate birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. The gathering included representatives of the Sri Lankan community in Russia, Sri Lankan students of the Moscow universities, representatives from the Cambodian Buddhist community, Russian guests and the Embassy staff.
The event commenced with a welcome speech by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia, Prof. M. D. Lamawansa, who congratulated the participants and expressed his gratitude for the contribution of the successful event. Followed by a Damma Programme and blessings by Ven. Sooriyawewa Gnanadassi Thero.
Representing Russian Buddhist Community, Real Sotheara with his team graced the event and presented books dedicated to Theravada Buddhism to the Embassy. On behalf of the Sri Lankan community in Russia, Hiran Karunaratne praised the initiative of the Embassy and emphasized the importance of continuity of Vesak celebration in the future.
The guests were invited to witness the lighting of the lanterns auspiciously lit by the Ambassador, which was arranged on the facade of the Embassy by the staff of the Embassy with the support of Sri Lankan students, sponsored by the Sri Lankan Business and Professional Society in Russia. This year the building was decorated with “atapattama” and lotus shaped lanterns, and other colourful lights. Both the guests of the Vesak programme and the passersby enjoyed not only the bright and elegant decorations, but also Ceylon tea and sweets offered in the “Dansela” programme. At the end of the programme all invitees were served with Sri Lankan delicacies.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Moscow
06 June, 2021
