KELANI DURUTHU PERAHERA BEGINS ON JANUARY 12
The Duruthu Perahera of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara will commence with the Budu Peraheras on January 12, and 13, 2014. The final day Maha Perahera will be held on January 14.
The three-day all-night Pirith chanting that commenced on January 8, will end with the Dorakada Asna tonight followed by the Devadutha Perahera . The Devadutha Perahera will leave the temple at 2.30 pm and proceed along Biyagama road, Pilapitiya, Gonagampala road to the Bodhirukkarama temple in Waragoda and return through Waragoda road, the Galborella Junction and Singharamulla. A student of Ananda Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo, Risandu Kemsara Jayakody will be the Deva Dutha (messenger of the gods) at the Dorakada Asna Pirith ceremony.
The Budu Perahera on January 12, and 13 will he held in the upper compound with the Basnayaka Nilame carrying the casket of relics three times around the Bodhi.
The Randoli Maha Perahera will parade the streets on January 14 (Tuesday). It will leave the temple at 8.00pm and proceed along Pahala Weediya the Kelaniya Sacred City, Biyagama road, Rajamaha Vihara Mawatha, and return through the Pahala Weediya.
The Durutu festival of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara began in 1927 under the direction of the Chief Incumbent Ven Mapitigama Dhammarakkhitha Thera and the patronage of M/s. Helena Wijeywardene. This year the festival has been organised under the guidance of Chief Incumbent Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Thera. Ven. Thera told the media that the Durutu Perahera was a ceremony held in reverence of The Buddha and it will give priority to traditional Buddhist rituals. The Thera said liquor outlets will be voluntarily closed during the Perahera period.
Speaking on the history of the Rajamaha Vihara the Thera said that the Wijewardene family has continued to support the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara since its destruction by invaders.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is the chairman of t he Dayaka Sabha while former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is the vice chairman.
Lecturer of the Kelaniya University Ven. Dr. Deniyaye Pagnnaloka Buddharakkitha Thera , Basnayake Nilame Dhammika Artygalle, Secretary of the Dayaka Sabha Jayaraja Chandrasekara, and Treasurer Pathmasiri Hapangama attended the media conference.