By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The days leading up to Vesak are typically spent carefully pasting tissue paper onto frames made of bamboo. Once complete, these are used to light up the garden, a Buddhist flag taking a prominent place. On Vesak poya itself, you would see houses decorated with lanterns, lights, oil lamps, and candles.
People start setting up stalls for dansal, where anything from drinks and sago to ice cream and rice are distributed for free. As night falls, pandols are lit up and people walk the streets, taking in the Vesak decorations.
This is what Vesak has been like for most of our lives. However, commemorations were brought down a notch or two in the last two years given the pandemic. Despite this, many still made it a point to at least visit the temple.
This year, Vesak feels different. With an islandwide curfew imposed during the days leading up to Vesak amidst political instability and an economic crisis, as well as inclement weather, Vesak decorations have been the last thing on anyone’s mind.
However, amidst all this, the true meaning of Vesak has taken prominence. Despite the hardships faced by people, they have not let it stop them from giving alms, a key practice in Buddhism.
Importance of giving alms
Queen Mallika then came up with a plan to give an alms giving so extravagant, the king’s subjects could no longer compete with the king. One of the king’s ministers, Junha, was very pleased and praised the king for having offered the Buddha alms so generously. The other minister, Kala, thought the king was squandering.
The Buddha realised how Kala was feeling and decided against delivering a lengthy discourse of appreciation, as it would only increase Kala’s dissatisfaction and, in consequence, he would have to suffer more in his next existence.
The Buddha later preached the following: “The extreme misers do not reach the heavenly worlds. The evil, ignorant ones do not approve acts of charity. But those wise noble ones approve and partake of charity. In consequence, they are happy in the next birth.”
He adds that the act of true charity is wholesome, has no strings attached, and leaves both the giver and the recipient free from obligation.
“The meritorious deed of charity is highly praised in every religion. Those who have enough to maintain themselves should think of others and extend their generosity to deserving cases,” he writes.
While charity is a practice one can engage in on a daily basis, Vesak is among the key days in the Buddhist calendar. As such, acts of charity and the giving of alms are common on this day.
This Vesak, Nilanthi Athukorala fed around 200 people by giving a dansala to the temple and worshippers. She prepared most of the food, with the help of five others. She ordered the string hoppers that were offered, but the potato curry, kiri hodi, polos, and pol sambol were prepared by them.
“As always we will refrain from consuming meat during Poya, and the dansala is of course vegetarian,” Athukorala said. “It is difficult to do it now given the economic crisis and our financial situation, but I want to do it somehow. We may not be able to do it again for a long time.”
According to Athukorala, she was also hoping to go to Anuradhapura this Vesak poya, but that is impossible now.
Vesak has taken a slightly different look this year for Anushki Samadhie Ferdinando as well, who said that she used to spend time at a cancer hospice in Meegoda on Vesak. Her day typically starts with bathing her pets, which includes dogs, cats, birds, and a tortoise, and cleaning the fish tank at home. She would then feed at least one stray animal, increasing the number depending on her financial situation.
According to Jeewantha Induruwa, previous years would include a visit to the nearest temple first, followed by a visit to dansal and pandals.
“But this year, most travelling is restricted due to the fuel shortage and curfew. But we are trying to go to the temple and to help any possible person in need,” Induruwa said.
Photos Lalith Perera