Religious rituals conducted at the Embassy of Sri Lanka and at UNESCO in Paris for Vesak
Posted on June 5th, 2013
Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Paris
Events to mark Vesak in France commenced with a special ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”pirithƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ceremony at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris which was attended by senior members of the Maha Sangha, including the Ven. Master Chin Kung, Head and Founder of Pureland College, Australia and Ven. Dr Bodagama Chandima Thero, International Affairs Advisor to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.
Upon being received by the newly appointed Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Professor Karunaratne Hangawatte, the senior Buddhist monks made offerings and conducted a special ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”pirithƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ceremony which was also attended by the Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Malani Fonseka, Member of Parliament, Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, President of the General Conference of UNESCO and other Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates from UNESCO.
Blessings were given to the many events being organized in France, especially at UNESCO to mark the three fold manifestation in the life and times of the Buddha.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”DanaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was offered to large number of members of the Maha Sangha at UNESCO on both the day before Vesak and on Vesak day itself.
The Chief Sangha Nayake of France, Ven. Parawahera Chandraratne Thero,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Adikarana Sangha Nayake Ven. Murungasyaye Gnanissara Thero as well as the Ven. Kongasdeniye Ananda Thero were amongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the senior members of the Maha Sangha who were joined by several other Buddhist monks who were visiting France from Sri Lanka, Asia and Europe.
On Vesak day, events commenced with a special session of prayers for peace and harmony, which was conducted at UNESCO. A large number of members of the Maha Sangha representing the different sects of Buddhism chanted ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”pirithƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These members of the clergy included Venerable monks from Sri Lanka, France and across Asia. The religious observances also included special prayers by Hindu, Christian and Islamic clerics.