Religious rituals mark Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

The 42nd National Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya was celebrated on a grand scale amidst religious rituals and observations at the Sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises yesterday.

Thousands of farmers carrying bowls of new rice harvested from the Maha season arrived in a procession which began yesterday morning at the 'Lion Pillar' at the border of Anuradhapura up to Sri Maha Bodhi.

Amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith, by the Maha Sangha, farmers poured the new rice in to the Maha Patra opposite the secred Boo-tree.

Farmer representatives from Trincomelee, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Moneragala, Badulla, Kurunegala and Kandy including Wanniyala Attho leader of Veddha community in Dambana and entourage were present at the new rice festival.

Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena read President Mahinda Rajapaksa's special message.

"I am present with you in soul and mind at the 42nd new rice festival. I am sure that in the someway the new rice is being poured in to the main bowl and which is overflowing the whole country would be filled with durable peace, prosperity, glory and splendour free of terrorism.

Our farmer community was instrumental in transforming the Rajarata in to the Granary of the East in the time of our great kings.

That phenomenon should be revived and I am sure our farmer community has the courage, strength and dedication to achieve such state of self-sufficiency".

Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera in his Anusasana praised the President for personally offering new rice to the 42nd new rice festival.

He said there were good omens that the country would reach self-sufficient in rice.