Nawaloka Hospital lights up for 2018 Vesak celebrations
Devotional chanting and songs, popularly known as ‘bakthi gee’, a sumptuous vegetarian ‘dansala’ and lights decked up the entire building of Nawaloka Hospital as the chief guest, Nawaloka Hospitals Chairman Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa together with the directors of the company stepped forward to inaugurate the Vesak celebrations at the premises of Nawaloka.
Nawaloka Hospital’s Vesak ‘Kalapaya’, held over the Vesak weekend, commenced each day’s celebrations with a ‘bath’ dansala and bakthi gee chanting to set the stage for two consecutive evenings of brightly illuminated festivities that drew flocks of crowds eager to celebrate Vesak with friends, family and loved ones.
The tradition of the annual celebration was hosted by Nawaloka Hospitals and Nawaloka Holdings, with Dr. Dharmadasa and senior management, on hand to greet all guests.
Among the many highlights of the evening was the Nawaloka Vesak dansala, during which over 20,000 dinner parcels were served to attendees over two consecutive days. Employees of Nawaloka lovingly took part in the bakthi gee and were on hand to serve the food that went on until dawn, to the many Vesak sight-seers who had travelled from all parts of Sri Lanka.
“It is always a pleasure to be present and share the joy of this meritorious celebration, which continues to serve as a vibrant platform to showcase the outstanding creativity of our staff who have actively come together, regardless of race or religion, in the planning and organising of the activities, thereby creating close-knit community with passionate team spirit,” Dharmadasa stated.
Whilst thanking all those who participated in the festivities, he also went on to note: “It’s such a glorious opportunity for us to make our own contribution towards society along the cherished path.”
The Nawaloka Vesak celebrations went on for two days with the bhakthi gee and dansala open to the public.
Sri Lanka’s leading private hospitals multi-chain Hemas Hospitals organised a number of activities for this year’s Vesak celebrations on a grand scale, including the lighting of colourful lanterns, dhamma sermons, a pirith ceremony and dansals. These activities attracted flocks of crowds from all over the country.
Kicking things off, Wattala and Thalawathugoda Hemas hospitals as well ashemas Laboratory Services took part in Hemas Group’s annual Vesak celebrations ‘Hemas Vesak Kalapaya’, which commenced parallel to the Sri Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya by Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple, by lighting up three Vesak lanterns. These graceful creations were entirely designed and crafted by staff members from each establishment. Members from the hospital chain also took part in a ‘bhakthi gee’ recital, which had staff members from different ethnic backgrounds and religious denominations.
Members of the hospital chain took the liberty in organising different activities to celebrate Vesak at their own hospital premises. Hemas Thalawathugoda organised an ice-cream dansala while the staff members from Hemas Homagama Laboratory organised a beli-mal dansala; both turned out to be great crowd pleasers. Subsequently, Hemas Wattala and Hemas Thalawathugoda hospitals organised dhamma sermons on May 2 and 4, which were delivered by Ven. Ududumbara Kashyapa Thera and Ven. Kelaniye Ajitha Thero.
Commenting about their role during the Vesak season, Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris commented, “Complete healing of a self means the perfect synergy between mind, body and soul. While it is of utmost significance as it marks three major events in the life of Lord Buddha, Vesak season brings peace and calmness to every human being—regardless of their religion or race—and translates the importance of unifying your mind, body and soul. I highly believe that the activities Hemas Hospitals organised for this year’s Vesak has helped many Sri Lankans to heal their souls significantly.”
“It is always a pleasure to be present and share the joy of this meritorious celebration, which continues to serve as a vibrant platform to showcase the outstanding creativity of our staff who have actively come together—regardless of their race or religion—in the planning and organising of the activities, thereby creating close-knit community with passionate team spirit,” he commented further.
Hemas Southern Hospital Galle organised an all-night pirith ceremony under the guidance of Sri Sudharmalaye Panangala Hemaloka Thera, which was held at the hospital premises, followed by an alms giving ceremony for 17 monks. Staff members from Hemas Sothern Hospital also organised a ‘sago (saw kanda) dansala’ for the public at the hospital premises.
Hemas Hospitals’ chain has planned to organise a string of activities for Poson Full Moon Poya Day as well, including a ‘Poson Kalapaya’ around their Watalla hospital and a ‘Maha Bath Dansala’ in Thalawathugoda.