- Visitors, Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka likely to attend four-day Vesakh Mela in Pakistan
Pakistan will host four-day annual `Vesakh Mela’ which will start from May 21 to mark the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, an ascetic and sage, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.
Buddha is believed to have lived and taught mostly in the eastern part of ancient India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. He taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the ascetic movement common in his region.
Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism. He is recognized by Buddhists as an enlightened teacher who attained full Buddhahood, and shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering. Accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarised after his death and memorised by his followers.
The officials said that Buddhist monks as well as a number of visitors from Sri Lanka will attend the Vesakh Mela to pay homage to Buddha on this holy occasion. The government will provide all facilities to the Sri Lankan monks and visitors for performing their religious rituals at sacred places.
A meeting to discuss arrangements for the festival was held here on Thursday between National History and Literary Heritage Division (NHLH) Secretary Engineer Aamir Hasan and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan Jayanath CP Lokuketagodage.
The high commissioner thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Adviser Irfan Siddiqui for taking keen interest in the arrangements of this holy festival. He was also appreciative of the arrangements being made by the government to provide proper facilities to the Buddhist monks and the steps taken for protection of Buddhist religious and historical places.
“Pakistan and Sri Lanka are tied in the bonds of mutual respect and love which are strengthening with each passing day,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Hasan said that like previous year, the division was making adequate arrangements to provide all possible facilities to the monks and visitors who will attend the festival in Pakistan.
He informed the high commissioner that last year, religious relics were also sent to Sri Lanka for Buddhist followers.
