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<blockquote data-quote="Mr PERERA" data-source="post: 6982221" data-attributes="member: 176031">[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vesak&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Full Moon Poya Day- MAY[/FONT]


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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vesak&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May. It is&nbsp;&nbsp; the most&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; hallowed of Buddhist festivals, almost a&nbsp; Christmas, Easier&nbsp; and Whitsun&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; rolled into one as it&nbsp; commemorates the birth of the&nbsp; Buddha, his&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; enlightenment&nbsp; and his death.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vesak&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; devotional songs, sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas,&nbsp;&nbsp; Pandals,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; lanterns, greeting cards and stamps are some of&nbsp; the things&nbsp; that we&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; see every year at the time of this&nbsp; Buddhist festival. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial,&nbsp; Helvetica, sans-serif]Buddhists&nbsp; commemorate&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; the important events that took place in the&nbsp; life of Lord&nbsp; Buddha&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; on this Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.&nbsp; First comes the birth of&nbsp; Siddhartha&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gautama in Lumbini&nbsp; in Nepal which took place under the&nbsp; arbor of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sat trees&nbsp; where queen Mahamaya gave birth to him. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial,&nbsp; Helvetica, sans-serif]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The second event was Siddharta Gautam's supreme attainment&nbsp;&nbsp; as the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Buddha, the Enlightened One. The third event was&nbsp; Lord&nbsp; Buddha's Parinibbana&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; over 2500 years ago at&nbsp; Kusinagar. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial,&nbsp; Helvetica, sans-serif]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In the Vesak week we find many activities conducted by the&nbsp;&nbsp; Buddhists&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; devotees such as devotional song campaigns,&nbsp; almsgiving,&nbsp; lighting&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; of Vesak lanterns ..etc. Many&nbsp; Viharas are filled with&nbsp; Atasil devotees&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; and pilgrims all&nbsp; over Sri Lanka to mark this great event. [/FONT]
 [FONT=Verdana,&nbsp; Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In&nbsp; temples Buddhists&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; worship, offer flowers, light lamps and&nbsp; burn incense.&nbsp; These traditional&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; observances, in&nbsp; essence, have their value in satisfying&nbsp; the religious&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; and emotional needs of the people. On this holy day the&nbsp; Dana plays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; an important role. Every devotee gives alms. This is a&nbsp; sign&nbsp; of sharing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; with joy and peace with people. The Vesak&nbsp; Pandal depicting&nbsp; various&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Jathaka stories with paintings&nbsp; are erected all over Sri&nbsp; Lanka. They&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; are illuminated and&nbsp; presented beautifully.[/FONT]
&nbsp; [FONT=Verdana, Arial,&nbsp; Helvetica, sans-serif]Many&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Vest lanterns are displayed at houses, which are very&nbsp;&nbsp; attractive&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; and beautify the nights.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial,&nbsp; Helvetica, sans-serif]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; There is a long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka of sending&nbsp;&nbsp; greeting&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; cards on this joyous occasion. People share&nbsp; their&nbsp; happiness among&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; relatives and friends by&nbsp; exchanging Vest cards. Many&nbsp; associations&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; arrange to hold&nbsp; an exhibition of paintings or competition&nbsp; on Vest&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; lanterns. The winners are awarded valuable prizes. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Poson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Full Moon Poya Day- JUNE [/FONT]
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<img src="http://www.employees.org/%7Esammuthu/images/poson.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />


Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka's son,&nbsp; the Arahat Mahinda,&nbsp; officially introduced Buddhism to the island in the&nbsp; 3rd century B.C.&nbsp; Accordingly, in addition to the normal ritualistic&nbsp; observances&nbsp; undertaken on a Poya day, on Poson day devotees flock to&nbsp;&nbsp; Anuradhapura, the ancient holy capital city of the country, for it was&nbsp;&nbsp; there that Arahat Mahinda converted the then ruler, King Devanampiya&nbsp;&nbsp; Tissa, and his court to Buddhism, thereby setting in motion a&nbsp; series of&nbsp; events that finally made Sri Lanka the home of Theravada&nbsp; Buddhism. On&nbsp; such Uposatha Observance days:Any Lay Buddhist simply&nbsp; joins the Three&nbsp; Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts like this:&nbsp; Newly bathed,&nbsp; shaved, white-clothed,with clean bare feet, one kneels&nbsp; at a shrine with&nbsp; a Buddha-statue,and bows first three times, so&nbsp; that feet, hands,&nbsp; elbows, knees and head touch the floor. Then, with&nbsp; joined palms in&nbsp; front of the heart,one recite these memorized lines&nbsp; in a loud, calm&nbsp; &amp; steady voice:
As long as this life lasts: 
I&nbsp; hereby take refuge in the Buddha. 
I hereby take refuge in the&nbsp; Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha. 
I hereby seek shelter&nbsp; in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma&nbsp; for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd&nbsp; time. 

I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd&nbsp; time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I&nbsp; hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will&nbsp; hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life! 

I accepts&nbsp; to respect &amp; undertake these 5 training rules: 
I hereby accept&nbsp; the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the&nbsp; training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training&nbsp; rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule&nbsp; of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of&nbsp; avoiding all Alcohol &amp; Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am&nbsp; thus protected by these 5 precepts... 
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vel&nbsp; Festival - August[/FONT]

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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vriis&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; the Hindu festival held in Colombo during July or&nbsp;&nbsp; sometimes&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; August to venerate the trident of Skanda,&nbsp; the god of&nbsp; war.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The main event is a great gilded&nbsp; temple chariot&nbsp; which contains&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; the ayudha(weapons)&nbsp; of this fierce god, headed by[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; two humped black bulls but actually drawn by&nbsp;&nbsp; hundreds of devotees&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; dressed in the egalitarian&nbsp; white waist cloth and&nbsp; shawl and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; smeared with holy&nbsp; ash. It's quite impossible to&nbsp; recognise&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; some&nbsp; ot'Colombo's wealthiest Hindus amongst them.[/FONT]
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Every&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; year the vel of Skanda is carried&nbsp; in a procession&nbsp; that starts&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; at the Sea Street&nbsp; kovil inthe Petlah districi of&nbsp; Colombo and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; moves&nbsp; onto the Bambalapitiya kovil 5 km (3 miles)&nbsp; away and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; allcmatively each year to the Wellawatta kovil. The&nbsp; temple&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; whose turn it is goes to town with gaudy stalls&nbsp; selling&nbsp; souvenirs,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; sugar cane and sugary sweets of many&nbsp; hues. Don't&nbsp; worry if&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; you are Late to catch the vel&nbsp; procession; the 6.5 -&nbsp; km (4-mile)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; journey&nbsp; proceeds at a snail's pace and takes a whole&nbsp; day,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; which makes it fabulous for the curious and a&nbsp; hideous slog&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; tor the Hindus dragging the cart.[/FONT]
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hindu&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; festivities are at their most&nbsp; vibrant in the Jaffna&nbsp; are during&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; this same season;&nbsp; the Nagapooshani Ammal on the&nbsp; island of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Nainativu, the Perumal and the Sellasannathi at&nbsp; Thondamannar,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; where you can see some eyepopping firewalking by&nbsp; devotees,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; are just som of a host of extraordinarily colourful&nbsp;&nbsp; festivals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; For the time being at least, the&nbsp; visitor to Lanka&nbsp; will miss&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; these. But a smaller&nbsp; one, lhe Kali Festival at&nbsp; Munneswaram&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; near Chilaw&nbsp; is entertaining and the Uddapu and&nbsp; Mundel festivals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; in July has some mean firewalking.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BL_iCCkYMKA/Rq6s_zr19CI/AAAAAAAACTU/KfWF1FgZNDw/s1600/9+Vel.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />[/FONT]
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[QUOTE="Mr PERERA, post: 6982221, member: 176031"] [CENTER][B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4]Vesak Full Moon Poya Day- MAY[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4][IMG]http://74.220.219.55/%7Ejanapriy/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/img_0279.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Vesak is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May. It is the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals, almost a Christmas, Easier and Whitsun rolled into one as it commemorates the birth of the Buddha, his enlightenment and his death.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Vesak devotional songs, sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas, Pandals, lanterns, greeting cards and stamps are some of the things that we see every year at the time of this Buddhist festival. [/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. First comes the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in Nepal which took place under the arbor of Sat trees where queen Mahamaya gave birth to him. [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The second event was Siddharta Gautam's supreme attainment as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. The third event was Lord Buddha's Parinibbana over 2500 years ago at Kusinagar. [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] In the Vesak week we find many activities conducted by the Buddhists devotees such as devotional song campaigns, almsgiving, lighting of Vesak lanterns ..etc. Many Viharas are filled with Atasil devotees and pilgrims all over Sri Lanka to mark this great event. [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In temples Buddhists worship, offer flowers, light lamps and burn incense. These traditional observances, in essence, have their value in satisfying the religious and emotional needs of the people. On this holy day the Dana plays an important role. Every devotee gives alms. This is a sign of sharing with joy and peace with people. The Vesak Pandal depicting various Jathaka stories with paintings are erected all over Sri Lanka. They are illuminated and presented beautifully.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Many Vest lanterns are displayed at houses, which are very attractive and beautify the nights.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] There is a long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka of sending greeting cards on this joyous occasion. People share their happiness among relatives and friends by exchanging Vest cards. Many associations arrange to hold an exhibition of paintings or competition on Vest lanterns. The winners are awarded valuable prizes. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://74.220.219.55/%7Ejanapriy/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/img_0202.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://cityphotos.info/cms/photos/7825%20sri%20lanka%20colombo%20vesak%20lantern%20thumbnails.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/482075715_02d1a5171f_b.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/148275310_1493177625_o.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2725724054_15011934e1_b.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/2508907651_7be7bba0d6_o.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/175789290_fef107394f_b.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3298217899_4bf07796d9_o.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4]Poson Full Moon Poya Day- JUNE [/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [IMG]http://www.employees.org/%7Esammuthu/images/poson.jpg[/IMG] [/CENTER] Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka's son, the Arahat Mahinda, officially introduced Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century B.C. Accordingly, in addition to the normal ritualistic observances undertaken on a Poya day, on Poson day devotees flock to Anuradhapura, the ancient holy capital city of the country, for it was there that Arahat Mahinda converted the then ruler, King Devanampiya Tissa, and his court to Buddhism, thereby setting in motion a series of events that finally made Sri Lanka the home of Theravada Buddhism. On such Uposatha Observance days:Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed,with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue,and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees and head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms in front of the heart,one recite these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice: [CENTER] As long as this life lasts: I hereby take refuge in the Buddha. I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma. I hereby take refuge in the Sangha. I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time. I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time. I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life! I accepts to respect & undertake these 5 training rules: I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs. As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts... [IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/4068538343_c1ee62d7e7_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1438/856655534_43ab42ca1b_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/856655478_e89710929d_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4319641171_298c374ec6_b.jpg[/IMG] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4]Vel Festival - August[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4][IMG]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BL_iCCkYMKA/Rq6n5Dr18tI/AAAAAAAACQs/SkdNrhzCrxU/s1600/29+Vel.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Vriis the Hindu festival held in Colombo during July or sometimes August to venerate the trident of Skanda, the god of war. The main event is a great gilded temple chariot which contains the ayudha(weapons) of this fierce god, headed by[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] two humped black bulls but actually drawn by hundreds of devotees dressed in the egalitarian white waist cloth and shawl and smeared with holy ash. It's quite impossible to recognise some ot'Colombo's wealthiest Hindus amongst them.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Every year the vel of Skanda is carried in a procession that starts at the Sea Street kovil inthe Petlah districi of Colombo and moves onto the Bambalapitiya kovil 5 km (3 miles) away and allcmatively each year to the Wellawatta kovil. The temple whose turn it is goes to town with gaudy stalls selling souvenirs, sugar cane and sugary sweets of many hues. Don't worry if you are Late to catch the vel procession; the 6.5 - km (4-mile) journey proceeds at a snail's pace and takes a whole day, which makes it fabulous for the curious and a hideous slog tor the Hindus dragging the cart.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Hindu festivities are at their most vibrant in the Jaffna are during this same season; the Nagapooshani Ammal on the island of Nainativu, the Perumal and the Sellasannathi at Thondamannar, where you can see some eyepopping firewalking by devotees, are just som of a host of extraordinarily colourful festivals For the time being at least, the visitor to Lanka will miss these. But a smaller one, lhe Kali Festival at Munneswaram near Chilaw is entertaining and the Uddapu and Mundel festivals in July has some mean firewalking.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3799244663_6cf46ed948.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [IMG]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KJ48u9DtKiU/Sm00V6bHZ5I/AAAAAAAAAXw/C9C6PmVjX3k/s400/DSC_0377.JPG[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [IMG]http://kataragama.org/pix/vel_fest_ther.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [IMG]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BL_iCCkYMKA/Rq6s_zr19CI/AAAAAAAACTU/KfWF1FgZNDw/s1600/9+Vel.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/FONT] [B][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/CENTER] [/QUOTE]

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