Sandika Madushan

DAILY NEWS, MAY 21, 1948

Sirens Will Usher
Vesak In

CROWDED 3-DAY
PROGRAM

THE annual Vesak celebrations begin tomorrow.

According to the preparations that have been going on for the last two or three weeks this year's celebrations promise to surpass in splendour and in extent the joyous displays of previous years.

This is the first time that the Dominion of Ceylon is celebrating this most sacred and popular Buddhist event and it is more than a coincidence that the celebrations on this occasion should continue for three days and nights from tomorrow.

This is because Monday, in addition to tomorrow, being a Government holiday owing to the intervening Sunday.

NO MORE HANDICAPS

In addition to this, the handicaps of the war years in regard to Vesak celebrations by way of restricted lighting, inadequate supplies of paper, lanterns, and other decorative material are now matters of the past and a brighter Vesak will be in evidence not only in the streets of Colombo and the provincial towns but also in the remote villages where Buddhists predominate.

In India too a request has been made that Vesak day should be declared a holiday.

A deputation of the Maha Bodhi Society of India led by Dr. Syama Prasad Mukerjee, the President, will meet today the Prime Minister of India, Pundit Nehru, to urge the Indian Government to declare Vesak Day a public holiday. Ceyon is also represented in this deputation.

Mr. Daya Hewavitarne, of the Ceylon Maha Bodhi Society has already reached New Delhi in this connection.

REVERBERATING REJUICINGS

The Vesak "Poya" dawns at 6.48 a.m. tomorrow and continues till 6.08 a.m. on Sunday.

The advent of the Poya will be greeted by the reverberating rejoicings of a Sabdha Pooja comprising the sounding of the sirens of steamers in Colombo harbour and at the Police Stations, the pealing of temple bells, the music of the "hewisi," and the firing of cruckers in Buddhist homes.

The religious observances of the day and the dispensation of "dana" "will precede the glamorous scenes in the streets on Vesak night.

Y.M.B.A. PROGRAM

The program of celebrations of the Colombo V.M.B.A. beging this evening with a talk by Dr. G.P.P. Malalasekera on "Vesak Adhistanaya" at 6.30p.m. This will be followed by a short musical program at which the Y.M.B.A. choly and Sunil Shanti will take part.

The members will observe "Ata-Sil" tomorrow and broadcast sermon, will be delivered by Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thero at 9 a.m. and by Talalle Dhammananda Thero at 4 p.m. tomorrow. A "Sangika Dana" to 50 bhikkhus are among the other items on the program.

The eclebrations at the Vajiraramaya Bambalapitiys, commences with a special broadcast talk by the Ven.Pelane Vajiragnana, Nayaka Thero, just as the "Poya" dawns. Arrangements have been made for a large number of devotees to take "sil" and to spend the day in the temple listening to the various discourses that are spread far into the night.

SERVANTS OF THE BUDDHA

The "Sil" party organised each your by the Servants of the Buddha will be led this time at the Maitriya Hall by Mr, Justice Basnayake. The program includes sermon in the morning and a talk in the afternoon by Bhikkhu Kasatpa.

The Maligakande Temple will be thronged with a large number of Upasakas and Upasikawas tomorrow as arrangements have been made for an unprecedented number to observe "Sil".

The Ven. Baddegarma Piyaratane Nayaka Thero, will administer "Sil" and deliver a discourse. Several other discourses will follow in the course of the day and night. A large number of Buddha "Poojas" have also been arranged at Maligakanda Temple from various parts of the City.

At the Vidyalankara Pirivena the celebrations begin today with the exposition of the relies of the Buddha brought a few years from England.

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS

Special arrangements. have been made by the railway authorities to enable the crowds from the suburban areas on the Main, Kelani Valley and Coast lines to come to Colombo to view the illuminations tomorrow and on Sunday night.

One way traffic will be introduced in Colombo by the Police on these three nights beginning from 7. p.m.

Mr. G. H. Robins, Superintendent of Police, Colombo, in drawing up this program has taken into consideration the streets that are usually attracted by the Vesak crowds on account of the location of the popular temples and the illuminations.

The Broadcasting authorities have arranged a special broadcast program for the celebrations. This program appears elsewhere.