“Poson Carols”

Poson Poya or the full moon day of the month of June is the commemoration of the coming of Buddism into Sri Lanka.

The high light of “Setik” Poson Poya celebrations of 2008 was the parade of the chariot with the choir singing Buddhist religious songs. This festival is annually celebrated by the members of Setik with choral singing of religious songs.

“Setik” Bakthi Gee chariot commenced its journey from Alawathugoda, a small town in the northern border of the Kandy District. The choir sang or chanted religious songs for devotees who awaited them along the way up to the borders of the North Central Province. On route, when the chariot arrived into the Matale District and reached Aluwihara temple, the historical site where the Buddhist scripture were recorded in the ancient days the devotees at the temple welcomed the chariot. The choir sang many devotional songs at the temple grounds. At Dambulla the chariot paraded on several roads in that town for the benefit of the devotees gathered in large numbers.

The organizers of this parade engaged in the implementation of short Peace programmes for the devotees to promote the ideology of Peace.

“Wesak Mal Dansala” (Free distribution of Flowers at “Wesak” - 2008)

“Wesak is an important festival of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. This co-memorative festival of Buddhism emphasizes the virtue of generosity as very meritorious. The pilgrims to temples on that day are provided freely food and drink. It is also customary to supply flowers for their offerings at the temples and shrines.

In the year 2008 – the festival of Wesak was observe on 19th May – Buddhist devotees visit temples to observe religious rites. The Temple of tooth is the main place of Buddhist Worship in Kandy.

‘SETIK” implemented a programme to provide free supply of flowers to the worshippers coming to the temple of the tooth. At the “SETIK” flower distribution stall flowers were distributed from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. on 19th May. A very special feature of this programme was that about 8000 White Lotus flowers were freely distributed to about 3000 worshipper to offer during the main morning offerings.

This programme was made possible through the generosity of the “SETIK” together with the co-operation of animators and peoples’ leaders of village and plantations where “SETIK” programmes are implemented. Irrespective race and religions all participated to make this programme successful. The pilgrims to the Temple appreciated the service tendered generously by an inter-faith group of “SETIK” Organization. Through this programme a very valuable message of peace, harmony and brotherhood was given to all people on this important Buddhist festival.

An Inter Religious Celebration of Sinhala & Hindu New Year

The celebration of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year 2008 was organized by “SETIK” with all the grass-root level groups from the fields where “Setik” programmes are implemented. The celebrations were held on 18th April 2008 at the public ground of Rattota, Matale district, Central Proince. Over 400 peple actively participated in the programme, enabling us to realize our main objective of this programme - which was to build cordial relationship of inter-ethnic groups.

The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the national flag by Rev. Fr. George Sigamoney - Director JPHDHR Secretariat and the flags of the four main religious by respective religious leaders.

This was followed by a series of about 20 traditional games in which all participated joyfully - children, women and men. The winners were awarded and the programme concluded with the national anthem.

All participants enjoyed themselves and our objective of promoting inter religious harmony and inter ethnic cordiality was realized to a good extent.

Poson Programme (30th June 2007)

Poson festival is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. According to the Buddhists the Buddhism was taken to Sri Lanka on this Poson day. To mark the even JPHDHR Secretariat organized a Bathi Gee Cart (Carol Singing) to go around Kandy and Mtale area to give the message of peace to the people. A group of children from Ukuwelawatte field was trained for this purpose and they were dressed according to the Sinhala Buddhist culture and were performing the singing very meaningfully and respectfully. Many viewers admired the effort taken by the organization in relevant time like this in Sir Lanka.

Celebration of Independence Day

4th February 2007

This year’s National Day programme took place at Ukuwelawatte to celebrate 59th anniversary of Independence in Sri Lanka. The highlight of the programme was to build up an inter-religious and inter-ethnic atmosphere. The religious leaders of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Catholics hoisted the respective religious flags. The Chef incumbent of North Central Province Ven. Udalumada Gunarathana Thero hoisted the National flag and pigeons were released to mark the freedom of our nation. The Religious Leaders in their addresses highlighted the importance of independence and the responsibility of each individual. Nearly 500 people of different ethnicity graced the occasion.