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Vesak 2009


Vesak is the most important of the Buddhist holy days. There are two public holidays over the Poya Day (Full Moon day). This year May 8th and 9th and many shops were shut but there was much merry making in the streets and lights and lanterns adorning homes. Vesak marks the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha. Together with a local Buddhist friend, Deepika, we followed the crowds to an ancient local Temple, on Friday May 8th 2009, which has been greatly expanded in recent years. Built into the side of a rocky hill are lots of scenes sculpted using cement which has then been painted. It was a very busy and there was a heavy security presence - about twenty soldiers looking as if they too were sculpted from cement. Here we see some traditional dancers and musicians processing up the hill.	This alleyway near Kandy Methodist Church is usually teeming with traders and their customers but during Vesak it was deserted, its decorations unappreciated. These decorations were up for about 10 days. The previous Sunday there had been lots of people here as usual, amidst the displays of colour. This photo taken on Sunday May 10th 2009

Typically Vesak falls between academic years and the students are all away. However, the new batch is undergoing the orientation programme. This year, for the first time since we have been here, the college held its own Vesak programme organised by some students as part of their long vacation fieldwork - unusually one group was on field work locally to the College. Here we see some of the new batch making some spectacular Vesak lanterns. Friday May 8th 2009.	Children from the local Temple and also from the college nursery and the TCL Saturday School (for the local village children) sing some songs as part of the Vesak programme. The night before the TCL group had been a part of the programme at a local Temple. TCL Sunday evening May 10th 2009

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