Shining a light on Sri Lanka

Nilantha Nammuni Arachchi’s large lantern that will give Nelsonians a glimpse into Sri Lankan culture

For the last six months, Nilantha Nammuni Arachchi has devoted every spare hour into crafting a lantern for Buddhist festival Vesak Poya.

Each weekend, using recycled materials, LEDs and a battery, the hydraulic engineer has crafted a 4-metre-high, 2.5m wide rotating lantern with black-andwhite cut-out shapes.

Vesak is a major event in Sri Lanka and other parts of South East Asia, with observers spending the day meditating and listening to sermons at the temple. For Buddhists, lighting a Vesak lantern represents enlightenment, and the eradication of darkness.

This year, the Buddhist festival fell on May 5, but due to the weather, the Sri Lankan community will celebrate a week late, displaying their lantern at 1903 Square on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

While the festival is a religious one, the community aimed to give Nelson an insight into a culture most will be unfamiliar with, despite more than 500 Sri Lankans living in the region, Arachchi said.

‘‘Most Kiwis don’t know much about Sri Lanka, they have never seen these things before. [In joining us] they can get better idea of Sri Lankan culture.’’

Last year, the community set up a lantern in Victory Square. With a move to a more central location, Arachchi hoped more people would join the Sri Lankan community in their celebrations.

You can see the lantern and sample ginger tea and Sri Lankan treats on May 13 and 14, 6-10pm at the top of Trafalgar St.

MARTIN DE RUYTER / STUFF Nilantha Nammuni Arachchi has built a four metre lantern to celebrate Vesak in Nelson. Sudath Nanayakkara, left, Dulhara Nammuni Arachchi, Nethsara Nammuni Arachchi and Nilantha Nammuni Arachchi with the lantern that will be a feature of the Sri Lankan Lantern Display at Victory Square on Saturday.