Sri Lankan New Year Celebration 2014

Every year Sri Lanka celebrates the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which falls on the 13th or 14th of April. The Sri Lankan New Year is a time where family and friends come together to celebrate and participate in traditional events associated with the beginning of a new year. There are many different events that are carried out at auspicious times during this festive season. Boiling milk over a clay pot signifies the welcoming of the New Year. The New Year festivities commence with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp. Gifts such as new clothes and money are exchanged and the entire family gathers around the dining table where traditional food such as kiribath (milk rice) and other delicacies are shared. Activities such as pin the tail on the elephant, sack race and tug of war are some of the games that are enjoyed by both the young and the old during the New Year celebrations.

On behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara and Sri Lankan Community in Georgia, We wish all our friends and well-wishers a very happy Sinhala & Tamil New Year and cordially invite you all to the Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations at 10.00 A.M. on Saturday 12th April 2014 at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Lithonia GA.

Agenda:

10.00 am Arrival

11.00 am Buddha Puja
11.30 am Dana for the Maha Sangha

12.00 nn  Lunch for laity

01.00 pm Celebration Assembly Lighting the traditional oil lamp and Pirth Desana.
01.30 pm Sigiti avurudu: singing by Sunday school children

• Traditional New-year Games
• Bursting balloons (Children)
• Bun eating competition (Children)
• Placing the eye on the elephant (Adults)
• Ow, Na, Ba (open)
• Musical chairs (Children)
• Musical chairs (Female)
• Musical chairs (Male)
• Running in sacks (Children)
• Running in sacks (Adults)
• Pacing with a lime on a spoon (Adults)
• Insert the thread through the eye of the needle (couple)
• and many more traditional events....
• Presenting awards to children

Anumodana

Join us for a day filled with traditional  food and  games.   
If you know of anyone who has not received this email please forward it to them.

All are welcome .....

• For Sigiti avurudu program contact: Ms Sudanti (susantha2@hotmail.com)
• We kindly seek volunteers to organize games. contact: Mr. Sarath weerasekara: (sweerasekara@comcast.net)

• Please signup for food items.
• Please signup for games & activities.

Following food menu has been suggested and any variations are welcome. Those who are interested may also bring curries to go with rice for Dana & lunch for guests. Expected turn out is 100. Three families can share bringing each food item.

Bak Full Moon Poya Program

Bak Full Moon Poya Program will be held on the Sunday, April 06th, 2014, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program. 

Bak Poya Day commemorates the second visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka in the fifth year of his Enlightenment in order to reconcile two local chiefs Mahodara and Choolodara (Uncle and Nephew), who were about to wage a war due to a jewel-embedded throne. The history states that the Naagadeepa chaithya was built by placing this throne inside it.

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Tea & coffee break

9:00 am – 11:00 am: Vipassana Meditation

11:00 am – 11:30 am:  Buddha Puja

11:30 am – 12:00 nn: Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:00 nn – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 3:00 pm Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne

3:00 – 3:30 pm: Break.

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm:  Sutra Discussion: Chuula Veadalla Sutta

5:30 pm:  Termination of the Sil Gilanpasa Pujava

Madin Full Moon Poya Program

Madin Full Moon Poya Program will be held on the Sunday, March 16th, 2014, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program. 

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Tea & coffee break

9:00 am – 11:00 am: Vipassana Meditation

11:00 am – 11:30 am:  Buddha Puja

11:30 am – 12:00 nn: Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:00 nn – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 3:00 pm Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne

3:00 – 3:30 pm: Break.

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm:  Sutra Discussion: Maha-Satipatthana Sutta (English, Sinhala, Pali)

5:30 pm:  Termination of the Sil Gilanpasa Pujava

Nawam Full Moon Poya Day

Nawam Full Moon Poya Program will be held on the Sunday, February 16th, 2014, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program. Navam full moon day stands out as clearly significant of a number of important events pertaining to Buddhist history.

1. A large assembly of monks for the first time. 
2. Appointment of Buddha’s two chief disciples.
3. The recital of the Ovada Patimokkha.

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Tea & coffee break

9:00 am – 11:00 am: Vipassana Meditation

11:00 am – 11:30 am:  Meditation

11:30 am – 12:00 nn: Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:00 nn – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 3:00 pm Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne

3:00 – 3:30 pm: Break.

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm:  Sutra Discussion: Saaleyyaka Sutta (English, Sinhala, Pali)

5:30 pm:  Termination of the Sil Gilanpasa Pujava

Durutu Full Moon Poya Day

Duruthu  Full Moon Poya Program will be held on the Sunday, January 19, 2014, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program.

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30am – 8:30am: Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana.

8:30am – 9:00am: Tea & coffee break

9:00am – 10: 00am: Vipassana Meditation.

10:00am-11-am:  Sutra Discussion: Chula-Assapura Sutta

11:20am – 12:00 Noon: Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:00Noon – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 4:30 pm Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne

2:30 – 2:45pm: Break.

5:30 pm:  Termination of the Sil Gilanpasa Pujava

The Significance of Duruthu Poya Day

• The Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. (nine months after his Enlightenment, the Blessed One visited Mahiyangana, in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka. His mission was to restore peace, to create a state of freedom from war or violence.)


• The Gautama Buddha,  offered Deity Sumana, some locks of hair. He placed it in an urn as a valuable Relic in the Mahiyangana Stupa.


• the Buddha’s second visit was to Nagadipa, in the Jaffna District. The Awakened One, Buddha, visited Nagadipa, to settle a dispute between Mahodara and Chulodara, uncle and nephew respectively, who were about to wase war, to gain the ownership of a gem studded thrine. Buddha, saw this and arrived in Nagadipa, emphasizing the value of harmony and ill-effects of hatred and settled the dispute without blood-shed.

The Significance of Unduvap Poya Day

What is the significance of Unduvap Poya Day?

By Premasara Epasinghe

The arrival of the great Arahat Bhikkuni Sangamitta to Sri Lanka and the found chon of establishment of the order of the nuns (Bhikkuni Sasanaya) took place on Unduvap Poya Day. Further on this Unduvap Poya Day, she brought with her a sapling of the Sacred Jayasrimaha Bodhi tree from Buddhagaya. Where Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment. The Bo-sapling was brought to Sri Lanka from India through the Expressway or Highway constructed from Dambakola Patuna, a sea port in the North of Sri Lanka, to Anuradhapura, with all pomp and glamour with respect of honour befitting to this event. The Bo-sapling was presented to the ruler of Sri Lanka, Devanampiyatissa.

The advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka took place on Poson Poya Day with the arrival of Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka and the foundation for the establishment of the order of nuns began with the coming of Arahat Mahinda’s sister Arahat Sangamitta Thera to Sri Lanka.

Pretty, pleasant and charming Princess Sanghamitta at the age of 16, married a Prince namely Aggribrahama. They were blessed with a son. They named him Sumana. Emperor Asoka’s brother Prince Tissa entered the Buddhist order. He was followed by Prince Aggribrahama. After he entered the Buddhist order, the little Prince Sumana too entered the Buddhist order at the age of seven (7) years.

The turning point of Sanghamitta’s life was, that she too decided to enter the sasana as a Bhikkuni. She entered the order of nuns, under the guidance of two elderly nuns, namely Ayupali and Dhammapali. At the age of 61 years, during the reign of King Uttiya, Arahat Therani Sanghamitta passed away. Sri Lankans are ever grateful to these two Arahat Mahinda and Theri Sanghamitta, who were responsible in making Sri Lanka the “Dhammadeepa”.

These two events changed the entire course of Sri Lanka’s history. With these two significant events, there sprang up a new society, economy, culture, arts, crafts and a proud Buddhist civilization and Buddhist Literature. Mahamegha Park at Anuradhapura-Mahavihara became the citadel Buddhism, which was to be official religion of Sri Lanka. The present day the city of Anuradhapura and its ruins, the massive stupas, edifies, the tanks are a silent tribute to Arahat Mahinda and Sanghmitta Theri. No visit by an foreign delegation, envoys, diplomats has created such an impact on the lives of Sri Lankans as the visits of Arahat Mahinda and Arahat Sanghamitta. It was the dawn of a new social, cultural and spiritual revolution in the island. After Sanghamitt’s arrival, Buddhism was deeply rooted. This took place on Unduvap Poya Day, and the Buddhists pay homage to Sanghamitta specialisation this day. Anuradhapura is the centre of attraction on this Unduvap Poya Day. Many devotees observe sil at the Jayasri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanveliseya premises. (for full story)