Due to the recent economic crisis in the country as well as the Covid crisis, Buddhists were not able to celebrate Vesak and Poson festivals on a grand scale for three years (2020-2022). Now the country has almost returned to normality. Sri Lankan Buddhists were able to celebrate the Vesak festival in a grand manner.
Buddhists are busy preparing to participate in the Poson Festival in June in the same way. All arrangements have been finalised to hold the ‘Dharma Rashmi Poson Zone’ at Homagama and Pitipana from June 3 to 5 in conjunction with the Poson Festival to be held at Mihintale.
Devotees will also get an opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Neelagiri Relics for the first time in three years at this event. The Buddha’s Relics, which belong to the Department of Archaeology, will be conveyed by motorcade from Colombo to the Sri Sugathabimbarama Vihara in Homagama on Poson Poya Day.
Relics Exposition
The Relics Exposition will take place at this temple on June 3, 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight each day. The Relics will be made available for this event with the special permission of the Commissioner General of Archeology.
Special private buses will run every 15 minutes within the Poson Zone while special buses will be deployed from the Makumbura Multi Modal Transport Hub to other provinces for the convenience of pilgrims attending the Relics Exposition.
On the instructions of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, the ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Poson Zone will be held and under the guidance of the Ministry of Mass Communication, the Ministry of Highways, the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs, Urban Development Authority, Armed Forces, Police, Government agencies, the Western Provincial Council, Homagama Divisional Secretariat, Homagama Regional Education Office, Homagama PS and Homagama/Pitipana residents.
Media sponsors
The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), SLRC, ITN and SLBC are the print and electronic media sponsors.
The Bhakthi Gee (devotional songs) show will be broadcast live on ITN on June 3, SLRC on June 4 and on SLBC on June 5.
This Poson Zone to be held on June 3, 4 and 5, is spread over 10 kilometres and covers the five main areas of Homagama, Pitipana, Haritha Sarasavi Pedesa, Deegoda Road and Godagama.
The ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Poson Zone No. 1 will be held in the Homagama town and the Sri Sugathabimbarama Temple.
A medical clinic, dansal, Poson Pandals and a devotional song concert will be held. Zone 2 will extend up to the Homagama Depot premises, with a lantern display, Dansal and Seela Samadana programs.
Zone No. 3 will cover the Mahinda Rajapaksa College and the NSBM Green University with a lantern competition and exhibitions featuring a Sripada replica and Ambalangoda puppet shows (NSBM campus). A pilgrim bus will travel covering all three zones.
The Poson Lantern Competition organised by Lake House with the support of ITN and Lakhanda will also be held on June 3, 4 and 5 at the Dharma Rashmi Homagama Pitipana Zone. All lanterns will be eco-friendly without polythene.
Prizes
In this competition, the first prize is Rs.500,000, the second prize is Rs.250,000, the third prize is Rs.125,000 and the fourth to tenth prizes are Rs.25,000 each. Nearly 50 Vesak lanterns will be displayed in the open section of the competition and nearly 40 will be presented in the schools section.
Other Poson pinkamas will be held at the Sri Bodhirajarama Vihara in Panagoda (a Sil campaign for 1,200 devotees), Green University in Mahena and the Meegoda Economic Centre. Some events will be especially targeted for children. Most of these events will be telecast live over ITN and Lakhanda and also on SLRC.
This is the biggest Poson event held in the Colombo District. There is a special transport service for those visiting the Poson Zone and 65 private buses will run from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight throughout the Zone.
An open invitation is extended to all to visit the ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Poson Zone on all three days (7 p.m. to 12 midnight) and those who wish to make any contribution should call over at the Homagama Divisional Secretary.