On April 17th, the Dhamma School teachers and parents organized a new-year celebration to usher in the Sri Lankan New Year. The event was held from 8 a.m. to noon at the North Millbourne Community League Hall in Edmonton.
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS 2011
The purpose of this religious and cultural program was to share with the children the new-year customs, traditions and observances in Sri Lanka.
The program kicked-off with a Buddha Puja followed by a sermon by Venerable Galkulame Medhankara, Acting Abbot at the Samatha Vipassana Meditation Centre. The venerable explained the significance of Buddhist principles we must follow at the beginning and through out the new-year and the importance of respecting parents. A PowerPoint slide presentation by Mrs. Jeevani Fernando, Dhamma School Teacher, explained the lunar calendar, culinary traditions, music, dress code, children's games and the flora and fauna that are commonly seen during the month of April in Sri Lanka. Mrs. Chitra Rajapakse, President of the Alberta Buddhist Vihara Association, talked to the children about respecting the parents and the importance of the sutra on blessings (Mangala sutra). Two children, Samadhi and Kasun, read poems dedicated to parental love and the gratitude children have for their parents. This was followed by all children offering betel leaves and worshipping their parents, and the parents blessing them in return. The event concluded with a sumptuous meal of traditional new-year snacks: kavum - kiribath,and several other edibles prepared by parents.
