Alms-giving also known as “dana” is a core practice in Buddhism, particularly in the Theravada tradition where bhikkhus rely on lay people for sustenance.
Dansala Society President
H. P. K. M. K. Perera
It involves offering food, clothing and other essentials to bhikkhus and bhikkhunis as well as to those in need. This practice is seen as a way to cultivate generosity, compassion and merits while also supporting the monastic community and their spiritual endeavour.
Holding dansalas (alms halls) is one of the acts of showcasing generosity, embedded in indigenous culture.
One dansala has been conducted annually for the past 79 years continuously, which is the oldest recorded dansala in the country.
This dansala is mainly meant for lay people or pilgrims who seek to allay their hunger and thirst after travelling a long distance to worship at sacred places during the Poson season.
The dansala which was started on May 10, 1947 even before the country gained Independence is very popular among the pilgrims who travel along the Kurunegala-Dambulla main road to visit sacred places such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Seruwila, Nagadeepa and Mihintale
The Melsiripura Sirisangabo Poson Dansala will be held for the 79th consecutive year day and night for three days from June 10 – 12.
People having meals in the dansala
Secretary of the Dansala Society Nimal Karunaratne said that most of the members of the Dansala Society are farmers. “They provide us with rice, vegetables, fruits and various sweetmeats,” he said.
Dansala Society President H. P. K. M. K. Perera said that the main objective of conducting the dansala is to provide the pilgrims with refreshments and meals.
“We started the dansala in a cadjan hut. But, today, we have a large building complex of our own with all the facilities such as a well equipped kitchen, a store room, a room to keep the cooked food, toilets, a special alms hall for the clergy, an office and a water supply project,” he said.
Residents in 18 villages around the Melsiripura town extend their fullest co-operation towards this meritorious deed. Nearly 75,000 pilgrims visited the dansala last year.
The Dansala Society President said that even Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike visited this dansala and enjoyed refreshments during the Poson season in 1956 on his way back to Colombo with some foreign Ambassadors after attending the Buddha Jayanthi festival in Anuradhapura.
When the Ambassadors had tried to pay money for the food, Prime Minister Bandaranaike had told them that Sri Lankans are very hospitable and they do not charge money for food served in the festive season. The Ambassadors had said that they had never seen any other place in the world that provides delicious food free.
