Vesak

Vesak Celebrations

When Sri Lanka has a celebration, they go all out and Vesak, the celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death is a big one.  On May 24, 25 and 26th Vesak Poya Day (full moon) is celebrated all over the island, be you Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim. The streets are packed with people going to the temples and the Danselas, free food given out by villages, army, navy, businesses and even schools. Long lines form for a free ice cream cone or a cream soda or a cup of tea. Farmers drive their tractors pulling wagons full of people to the celebrations, stopping for the free food along the way. Everyone comes out from tiny babies in arms to barefoot grandmas.

On the way to Vesak celebrations

Waiting in line for free food

At the University, the Arts Faculty students made beautiful lotus lanterns to float in the pond symbolizing the seven steps Buddha took.  A few lucky boys swam out and anchored the lanterns in the middle of the pond avoiding the 6 foot monitor (giant lizard).

Students attaching bamboo floats to the lotus lanterns

Lotus floating lanterns on campus

University students perform songs of reverence for the Buddha.

Our Sri Lankan friends took us to see the Blow Hole, a spot on the coast where the water comes up 60 feet in a roaring fountain.  It was packed with locals.

The Blow Hole

Vesak crowds

We took a bus to Galle to see all the lanterns and got another bonus of kite flying. May is a windy month and everyone comes out to fly kites off the walls of the fort.

A sky full of kites

Kite flyers galore

Thousands of lanterns are hung along the streets and from every house and business creating a magical effect. Some of the lanterns are simple hexagon frames covered with paper and streamers while others are very elaborate with intricate paper cut designs and multiple lanterns, that are motorized to rotate. Some even have animated figures of Buddha.

Huge lantern over a Tuk Tuk.

Lanterns blowing in the breeze

Multi-teired carved wood lantern

Lantern detail

Spinning lantern with Buddha statues

The story of Buddha on a giant billboard of flashing lights

Going home from Vesak in a covered wagon