It is spring over here
Weather patterns changing
With the sweltering heat
Vanishing slowly but surely
Flowers flowering in flamboyant colours
Among them ‘Araliya’ outstanding
Heralding the Vesak.
Temples getting crowded
With devotees young and old
Clad in spotless white
Radiating untarnished purity
In both mind and soul
Paying obeisance to
Gauthama Buddha with reverence
Celebrating the triple events
Of Birth, Enlightenment and Death.
Participating in meditation
And reflection
Listening avidly to bana preaching
Invoking blessings and merit
On the deceased relations
By distributing alms
To minimize their sojourn in Sansara
And attain Nirvana.
As night falls, the full moon
Glistens brightly in all its splendour
illuminating the temple
With its radiant rays
The worshipers respectfully
Wend their way to the temple
Amidst the peeling of bells.
It’s a riot of colour
With pure white conspicuously dominating
Reminding one of innocence and serenity
Charm in appearance
Armed with trays of Araliya and
Jasmine flowers
Leaving behind a mild fragrance on the trail
I too, ungrudgingly make my way
To the temple unobtrusively, bare footed
To be lost among the clusters of flowers
Left behind in homage offerings
With fragrant odour of incense
Renting the air.
– Camillus Fernando