MOHAMMED NASSAR
COLOMBO: A huge pandal that was being built in the heart of Colombo was thrust aside due to a heavy storm because of inclement weather in the afternoon on Saturday,May 14.
The pandal was erected by the merchants in Pettah which is the main shopping area for wholesale and retail businesses. The pandal is an annual feature near the Bo Tree in the intersection of the Pettah Gas Works Street and Olcott Mawatha, near the Pettah bus stand.
Vesak is the annual festival recognized by the United Nations and it will be celebrated on May 15 and 16 to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.
“Vesak”, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away.
The General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions, which also wish to be consulted
