The “Easter of Buddhism” will be celebrated with a kaleidoscope of colour by the Sri Lankan community on Saturday.
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The Festival of Light will take place at The Cube, Wodonga on Saturday to celebrate the Vesak Festival, the biggest event on the Buddhism calendar.
During Vesak, which will coincide with the full moon on May 21, thousands of Buddhists across the world will “pray in temples from dawn until dusk”.
Albury-Wodonga Sri Lankan Buddhist Association secretary Aruna Wijesekera said the courtyard at Wodonga would be illuminated with traditional hand-made lanterns.
“Lord Buddha was born on Vesak day, he was enlightened and also died,” he said.
“We select Vesak as a day to spread messages of inspiration.
“These lanterns celebrate the teachings of Lord Buddha and people being enlightened by his teachings.”
Mr Wijesekera invited the community to see the elaborate displays and taste Sri Lankan food.
“On that day we do various things, we have these lanterns and give free food to people,” he said.
“It’s done with your heart to show the teachings of Buddhism.”
Mr Wijesekera said the festival was less about the religion and more an opportunity for residents to meet members of the region’s 150-odd Sri Lankan families.
“We rarely get a chance to celebrate like this and gather all these people,” he said.
“It means a lot for us to celebrate in a small town like this and to show the people how we celebrate the festival.
“We want to share with the community what we are doing and just to get together.”
Albury-Wodonga Sri Lankan Buddhist Association secretary Darshana Dehigama came to the Border less than two years ago.
Mr Dehigama said it was difficult missing the celebrations in Sri Lanka but the Festival of Light celebration would allow him to celebrate his culture.
“I was struggling earlier but now I really like it,” he said.
“It’s a big day.”
Mr Dehigama will hand-make one of more than 40 lanterns for the festival, which ran for the first time in 2015.
“The process is we make squares (out of bamboo) and piece it all together with tissue paper,” he said.
“It looks beautiful.”
The celebrations will kick off on Saturday from 6pm.
