Buddhists gather
SERENE views of the mountains above Karaman and the sea below were a fitting backdrop to a small festival to mark Buddha Day. Organiser Barrie Cotterell and wife Carole opened their home in the village to 23 people, including seven-month-old local resident Charlie, who attended with his parents. Wesak (or Vesak) Day — also known as Buddha Purnima — was celebrated on May 6 by Buddhists and Hindus. “It takes place in and around the full moon in May and commemorates the birth and death of Buddha and when he came to be Buddha, with people wearing white or giving up meat for a day,” said Mr Cotterell, 56.
The festival, the second he has organised, drew guests of various nationalities — including American, British, Zimbabwean and Dutch — from Lefkoşa, Girne and even South Cyprus.
The couple’s daughter Bethan Thomas and son-in-law Sam, who are expecting a child, were also present during a holiday on the island.
“It was a good turnout,” said Mr Cotterell, who holds weekly meditation sessions at his home that have attracted some 80 people over the past two years.
“We have had a few who weren’t Buddhist, but you don’t have to be Buddhist to come along.”
He started off the event with an introduction, which was followed with a talk by Jane Murphy from Paralimni.
A 20-minute meditation session was led by Miriam Caraman followed by a flute performance by Turkmen national Gulnara Hojanepesova. Participants then lit a candle at a Buddha shrine. The event continued in the garden, where vegetarian food and refreshments were served.
Mr Cotterell, who moved to the island from Cardiff two-and-a-half years ago, converted to Buddhism after being inspired to do so during a trip to Sri Lanka.
“It was 14 years ago . . . it changed my life,” he said. “I then became a vegetarian. I came to Cyprus for a quieter life with Carole. We let people into our house to teach meditation and it has now become very popular with Cypriots,” said the former company director who has worked in waste and recycling for 30 years and was the manager of the UK’s largest waste company.
His meditation sessions take place on Tuesdays and Sundays from 10am. For more information, visit the Buddhism and Meditation in Northern Cyprus Facebook group, or call 0533 845 9568.