We are right in the middle of the unprecedented Vesak pageant “Vesak 2009”.
The Vesak Full Moon Day this year (2009) marks the 2598th anniversary of the attainment of enlightenment, by Ascetic Siddhartha, at the foot of the Bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya.
In two more years in 2011, the world will celebrate the 2600th year of the attainment of enlightenment by Ascetic Siddhartha.

In consequence, the present pageant “Vesak 2009 – International Buddhist Festival,” is a preface to the sacred events that will take place in 2001.
Those devoted masses who travel around in a spirit of religious ardour, will discover a whole world of Vesak events, at the BMICH premises, in Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo.

For those who take delight in sight-seeing, the Buddhist festival at the BMICH is a veritable feast.
The visitors enter through a jumbo-pandal, perhaps the most attractive pandal seen in Colombo this season.
The devoted visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the Dagoba – shaped water – fountain that display unusual engineering skills.

“Vesak 2009 – International Buddhist Festival” is being held on the May 9, 10 and 11, 2009. Each day the pageant begins at 5.00 in the afternoon.

All these performances can be viewed by visitors to the site, entirely free.
An exhibition of photographs on Buddhist themes has been organised as part of the pageant. Some of the photographs on display have won awards.

Along with this, an exhibition of paintings is also being held. These too are on Buddhist themes. These paintings are available to be purchased.
Visitors to the site can see outstanding Buddhist films entirely free. This segment of the pageant is described as “Chitrapata dansala”.
The films are shown on jumbo screens, to enable visitors to watch the films from all areas of the premises.
Among those films, that will be publicly screened free, are “Asoka”, “Anguli Mala”, “Ambapali and “Uppakavanna”.

Part of this festival is an international film competition. Some locally produced short films, and foreign films, that entered the competition, will also be shown to the visitors.
Two unprecedented items, that form part of the pageant are, the e-Vesak cards and mobile-phone short films.
A special booth, named as “Cinema Asapuwa”, will be set up at this unprecedented function. This “Cinema Dansala”, will be a meeting place for would be film makers on Buddhist themes and producers and financers, who are willing to support the production of such films.

If you are contemplating the making of a film on a Buddhist theme, you could visit “Cinema Asapuwa” and meet those who could help you. For further details please contact telephone 2696822.
A prestigious parallel event is the “International Workshop”. The central theme of the workshop is “Communication – with special reference to Buddhist Communication”.

This will be held on the May 10, 11 and 12 from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. each day.
Outstanding resource persons, both local and foreign will be associated with this workshop. Since, only a limited number can participate in this, the allocation will be on “first come – first served”, basis. Please contact an official at telephone 2696822, if you are keen to participate in this workshop.

“Vesak 2009 – International Buddhist Festival”, is the first in a continuing annual series. Although there has been no precedent, the interest in this festival, both at local and foreign level, has been quite enthusiastic.
Those who would want to support this prestigious and highly fruitful annual Vesak pageant could contact the organisers.

The highlight of “Vesak 2011”, the year that marks the 2600th anniversary of the attainment of enlightenment by Ascetic Siddhartha, is the production of an epic film on the Buddha, with global support.

All are welcome