Life Online - Sri Lanka's Latest Lifestyle Food Factor Fashion & Beauty Updates-life.lk -

WTF - Vesak 2016

May 25 2016.

What - Vesak Lights
Where - Colombo
When - 21st of May

It was a fine day for a long, messy walk down Colombo and the streets next to Gangaramaya Temple to see the Vesak lights. I wait for this time every year, a time full of sparkle and colour, but we cannot forget what this country is still facing with the bad weather, and we feel the pain, but as a country this has made us strong and come together. The lights did go up and Vesak did take place but not as big as the other years.

The traffic was not that bad, as we unfortunately did not have many visiting us from out of Colombo.

Millions of Buddhists celebrate Vesak Day, an officially recognized United Nations (UN) holiday that celebrates the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

On this very sacred day we commemorate Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha the enlightened one, lived in India and Nepal between the sixth and fourth century BCE. His teachings focused on messages about compassion, peace and goodwill. And his teaching is so painless and full of the wonders of life, Millions around the world follow the teachings of the Buddha today, and it’s a life of true freedom and free spirit.

This special day was recognized by the UN In 1999 to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over 2500 years.

The streets were full of things to see, eat, and photograph. I love the little stalls which end up giving you things which you can never find on a normal day, such as the masks, the toys, and bubble makers. It sure brings out the child in you!

I met this family on the bike who were simply cute, and they were telling me that it’s a time that they all feel that they need to step out even if it rains or not, and they have loved it even before their wedding and then as a couple and now as parents. This is their family tradition, and I managed to take a photograph with them.