Lanterns are an integral part of the Vesak Poya festival (Full Moon in May), which is celebrated to mark three important events in the life of Buddha — birth, enlightenment and death.
This time, in Colombo, a Vesak lantern kept near the Gangaramaya temple is an additional attraction as it has been modelled on the “stupa” at the Mahabodhi temple in Gaya, Bihar. This has been arranged by the Indian government at the invitation of the Sri Lankan government. This year, the Vesak Poya fell on Saturday.
The lantern will be on display till Wednesday as part of the Buddha Rashmi Vesak celebrations organised by the Presidential Secretariat and the Gangaramaya temple.
The Mahabodhi temple, one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in June 2002.
Located about 115 km south of Patna, the temple is regarded as one of the four holy sites related to the life of Buddha.
According to the UNESCO, this was the first temple built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC. However, the present temple is of the 5th-6th century CE, belonging to the late Gupta period.
Another special feature is that the temple is believed to have had a significant influence on the development of brick architecture over the centuries.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here inaugurated an exhibition of sacred relics of Buddha brought from Pakistan.
