National Vesak Week commences today

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka's national Vesak week - declared in line with the Buddhist festival, commenced on Monday and will run until May 11. The South Asian island will experience muted celebrations of the otherwise colourful festival, due to curfew restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The Vesak festival, which marks the birth, enlightenment, and the demise of Lord Buddha, will be held under the theme "Health is the paramount wealth - Happiness is the enduring wealth" this year. "It has been decided to celebrate the Vesak 2020 in a small scale and simple manner," the ministry which oversees Buddhist affairs said in a statement this week. The State Vesak Festival will take place from May 6 to 8 at the Horana Gonapola Olaboduwa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Kalutara, with limited guests, according to the ministry. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will be among those in attendance at the small scale ceremony. "Buddhist devotees are advised to observe religious observances at home," the statement read urging the public to make use of technology to follow religious observances.