Buddhists all over the world celebrate the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day today (5).

Buddhists commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s birth, the enlightenment of the Buddha, and the passing away on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

This year’s Vesak is extra special for Sri Lankans since they were not able to celebrate the Vesak festival in previous years due to Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

On the occasion of Vesak, Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees conduct various religious programmes and organise many Aamisa and Prathipaththi poojas including pandals, lanterns, and dansals mostly in and around Colombo and in other major cities.

Accordingly, Vesak zones have been set up in many places including Thotalanga, Kiribathgoda, Kelaniya, Maharagama, Kottawa and Rajagiriya.

The Bauddhaloka and the Gangarama Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zones will be held for several days. The State Vesak Festival will be held in Puttalam District.

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs organised the festival in collaboration with the Buddhist Affairs Department, Samastha Lanka Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya, Puttalam District Secretariat, Chilaw Divisional Secretariat and other governmental institutions.