The National New Rice festival (Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya) was held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday morning, April 6 at the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi sacred precincts in Anuradhapura.
This traditional ceremony, dedicated to offering the first yield of rice harvest from the Maha season to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi for the 57th consecutive year, was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Services on the guidance of the Atamasthanadipathi, the Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera.
Hailing from various corners of the nation, farmers congregated in Anuradhapura for this age-old ritual, thanking nature for its bountiful rains and fertile fields. Their prayers extended to the aspiration for national self-sufficiency through agriculture, fostering economic prosperity.
Initiating the ceremonial filling of the golden bowl with freshly harvested rice, the Atamasthanadipathi led the proceedings.
