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In the diocese of Anuradhapura, northern Sri Lanka, Catholic youth and children have joined the celebrations of the traditional Buddhist festivity of Poson Poya in a climate of harmony and sharing.The event, which is a national holiday in the country, took place on June 30 this year. It commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 236 AD.
Buddhists go on pilgrimage to the sacred places of their religion. At dusk they light candles and lanterns in temples.
Homes and streets are decorated and special processions with dancers and elephants get underway whilst meditation sessions are conducted. Altogether the celebration lasts five days.
Catholics participate in the festivities as well “to show their unity with their Buddhist brothers in our village,” said Manoj Silva Manoj, 24-year-old president of the Youth Society of the Holy Rosary Parish in Palugasdamana.
“We decorate the front of the church with big colourful lanterns,” he told AsiaNews. “We made them with our hands and will leave them on for a week.”
Sister Marlin Perera, a Franciscan nun, helped making ritual drinks that are typically offered to Buddhist pilgrims.
The nun who works with fishermen in Pollonnaruwa District said she “liked this initiative becomes it is a good example of how we can build ‘unity’ between Buddhists and Catholics at the village-level.”
Young people and children together prepare the dansala, a typical drink for the occasion. Like every year pilgrims come and stop for refreshments.”
Out of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people 70 per cent are ethnic Buddhist Sinhalese, 15 are Hindu Tamil. Muslims, who are 8 per cent, are considered an ethnic minority.
The 7 per cent who Christians come different backgrounds, both Sinhalese and Tamil.
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