Paying deep reverence to the legendary sacred stupa, Kirivehera at Kataragama at first, and seeking divine blessings of the Kataragama deity, Skande-Murukan who commands the utmost respect of both Sinhalese and Hindus alike as a guardian deity, hundreds of flag-bearing all ranks in the Army, headed by Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army Sunday (6) evening, took part in the final segment of buddhist ceremonies that precede the forthcoming 64th anniversary of the Army.
Records confirm that this was the first time in the Army history an elaborate anniversary ceremony of this magnitude was conducted in Kataragama as a symbol of deep veneration to Buddha's Uddesika relics, where the sword that Prince Siddhartha, cut his hair off at the time of his renunciation, is believed to have been enshrined in this historic Kirivehera stupa and later on the Ashtapala Bodhiya at the Devaala precincts. Built by the famous King Mahasena, Kirivehera is twice honoured as it was the place where the Buddha during his 3rd visit to Sri Lanka during the 3rd century BC, stopped for a while before proceeding to Tissamaharamaya, according to buddhist chronicles.
With symbolic flags of all Army Regiments, Security Force Headquarters, Training Schools, Divisions, Brigades, formations and units, members of the Army, paraded thrice round the Kirivehera in devotion, preceded by Hewisi drummers soon after the Chief Guest of the day's event, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, arrived at the Kirivehera premises. Religious observances were then administered by the Kirivehera Vihardhikari, invoking blessings of the Triple Gem on the Army and its forward-march.
Afterwards, the colourful procession with flags, holding aloft wended its way to the Kataragama Devaalaya premises where the flags were again blessed at the foot of the sacred Ashtapala Bodhiya, said to have been planted during the reign of the King Dutugemunu soon after his victory over the Chola King, Elaara. The procession venerated the Bodhiya after parading around it thrice with Shabda Pooja reverberating.
A special Pooja at the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devaalaya minutes after the senior officers delivered the flags for symbolic blessings, culminated the day's event, attended by the Chief of Staff and a host of senior officers and other ranks.
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