Vibrant Food Fest and Celebrations in Kandy, honouring the Noble Teacher – Lord Buddha. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Website: www.Doctorharold.com
Hello viewers,
Today, on the 23rd of May, in the Theravada tradition, Gautama Buddha was born, enlightened, and died, referred to as Paranirvana. This day is also known as Wesak.
It is a time when the vibrant streets of Kandy come alive, filled with the scent of incense and the sound of chants as the city celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Noble Teacher-Lord Buddha.
With its rich cultural heritage, Kandy is where one of his relic teeth is venerated, making it a significant location for Buddhists. The Wesak festival is, unique to Kandy also features a Perahera, a grand procession with well-dressed elephants, Kandyan dances, and other items, parading through the streets of Kandy, further honouring the noble one.The streets are adorned with beautiful decorations, creating a festive and joyous atmosphere.
Lord Buddha, born Prince Siddhartha, was enlightened on the same day of Wesak and died, referred to as Paranibbana, on the same Wesak day after 80 years of living. To honour the noble one, people in Kandy visit the Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Tooth, dressed in white and spend the day in prayer. This temple, a significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists, houses the relic tooth of Lord Buddha, a symbol of great historical and religious importance. The Wesak festival also features a Perahera, a grand procession with well-dressed elephants, Kandyan dances, and other items, parading through the streets of Kandy, further honouring the noble one and showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Additionally, there were many free food centres called Dansalas, where people passing by on the streets were offered coffee, biscuits, and other snacks.
The event’s climax is in the evening, starting at 7 p.m., when people queue for miles to enjoy a tasty plate of rice and curry, organised at Senani restaurant at the viewpoint on Raja Pilla Mawatha.
The food fest starts with the Buddhist monks chanting pirith. Then, the chief dayakaya and the organiser, Sugeewa Palliaguruge, and his family begin serving rice and curry with their hotel staff. Over a thousand people, women, men, and families with their little kids, wait for hours in this long queue to taste this exquisite food cooked by the chef and kitchen staff of Senani restaurant.
This event is a testament to the strong community spirit that binds the people of Kandy together. This is a merit-acquiring feast that no other organisation in Kandy can afford to deliver to the people. As it is an annual event, the participants give the
organiser a lot of merit.
The staff, family, and well-wishers serve food for over a thousand people until the early hours, and the merit they get is something they believe according to Buddhist traditions.
According to the oldest Buddhist texts, Buddha Purnima is the most significant day, and it holds immense spiritual importance for Buddhists worldwide. Lord Buddha, a revered spiritual teacher and philosopher, is considered the ninth
avatar of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. The celebration of Buddha Purnima serves as a global reminder to follow the honest and simple path laid by Gautam Buddha, emphasizing the profound importance of overcoming
desires and attachments to attain mental peace and bliss.
The festival is observed with sincerity and honesty, encouraging followers to adhere to Buddha’s “Eightfold Path” for attaining salvation. Devotees take part in various rituals such as taking a holy bath, wearing white or orange clothes, decorating the Bodhi tree, and placing small Buddha statues in water to pour over them. Additionally, they light lamps and incense sticks, recite prayers, offer food and clothes to the poor, and practice meditation to
seek Buddha’s blessings.
Devotees also take vows to follow the “Panchsheel”—the five principles of Buddha’s teachings, which include nonviolence, honesty, and abstinence from alcohol. Chanting the powerful mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” is expected during this festival.
I hope you enjoyed sharing this annual fest in Kandy until we meet again; goodbye for now, and May the Triple Gem Guard you.
