Colourfully-dressed Army cultural troupe’s rhythmic beats of traditional and auspicious beats of Hevisi and Magul Bera reverberated around the most sacred Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts Tuesday (1) morning as hundreds of soldiers-turned flag-bearers of the Sri Lanka Army lined up, holding all Army Flags to be taken for symbolic invocation of blessings to coincide with the forthcoming Army Day (Oct 10) and 64th Army Anniversary.
The traditional Flag Blessing ceremony of the Army at Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, this morning, preceded elaborate religious performances at Sri Dalada Maligawa on Saturday (28), attaching pride of place to the veneration of ‘Shairiraka’ (physical) relics at Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa at the first place, on a new conceptual arrangement, proposed by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake himself before offerings were made to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, the sacred, ‘Paribhogika’ (places or objects of use) relics of the Buddha at Anuradhapura this morning.
The day’s religious itinerary began soon after the arrival of the Commander of the Army who prerequisite to observances at the ‘Uda Maluwa’ (upper layer), called on Ven Pallegama Sirinivasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi, (incumbent for eight places of worship) and the Chief Sangha Nayaka for North Central Province as a formal tradition where he offered Deheth Wattiya (tray of betel) to the monk and formally invited him to invoke blessings.
As has been the practice, all the Army Flags, representing the Army Headquarters, Volunteer Force Headquarters, Security Forces Headquarters, Forward Maintenance Areas, Divisions, Task Forces, Area Headquarters, Sub-Area Headquarters, Brigades, Regiments, Units and Army Training Schools, were thus taken in a colourful procession around the Weli Maluwa (lower layer) thrice before those flags were accepted by senior officers, awaiting at the Meda Maluwa (middle layer). Those flags were afterwards respectfully handed over to the Commander of the Army for placement at the foot of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya at the upper layer for symbolic blessings.
After the flags were laid on a bend of jasmine and lotus flowers at the foot of the Sri Maha Bodhiya, members of the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith, invoking blessings on Guardians of the Nation and extolled the Army’s contribution and dedication towards the motherland in a special Anushasana (oratory), made by a member of the Maha Sangha, present at the venue.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake, flanked by a large gathering of senior officers and other ranks afterwards observed religious rites and rituals as administered by members of the Maha Sangha before Ata Pirikara and a special cash donation were offered to the chief monk as a symbolic gesture of appreciation towards the Sangha fraternity.
Ven Nugathenne Pannananda Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Sri Jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura, Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Ven Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Lankaramaya, Ven Eethalawetunuwewe Gnanarathana Thera, Incumbent, Mirisawetiya, Isurumuniya and Abhayagiriya Incumbents were associated with the day’s ceremony at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya.
Hundreds of representative Army officers and other ranks, attired in colourful military dress with their regimental and field formation flags aloft before the observances proper began, conducted a solemn march around the sacred tree thrice after they wended their way from the Makara Thorana (archway) to the premises. Chief of Staff and all Principal Staff Officers, Commanders-Security Force Headquarters and senior officers took part in the ceremony.
The Army, raised in October 1949 as the country’s most formidable land force to be reckoned with, is now comprised of 24 regiments, including volunteer ones, and engaged in a multiplicity of nation-building development projects since its landmark victory over terrorism in the year 2009.
The traditional Flag Blessing ceremony of the Army at Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, this morning, preceded elaborate religious performances at Sri Dalada Maligawa on Saturday (28), attaching pride of place to the veneration of ‘Shairiraka’ (physical) relics at Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa at the first place, on a new conceptual arrangement, proposed by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake himself before offerings were made to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, the sacred, ‘Paribhogika’ (places or objects of use) relics of the Buddha at Anuradhapura this morning.
The day’s religious itinerary began soon after the arrival of the Commander of the Army who prerequisite to observances at the ‘Uda Maluwa’ (upper layer), called on Ven Pallegama Sirinivasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi, (incumbent for eight places of worship) and the Chief Sangha Nayaka for North Central Province as a formal tradition where he offered Deheth Wattiya (tray of betel) to the monk and formally invited him to invoke blessings.
As has been the practice, all the Army Flags, representing the Army Headquarters, Volunteer Force Headquarters, Security Forces Headquarters, Forward Maintenance Areas, Divisions, Task Forces, Area Headquarters, Sub-Area Headquarters, Brigades, Regiments, Units and Army Training Schools, were thus taken in a colourful procession around the Weli Maluwa (lower layer) thrice before those flags were accepted by senior officers, awaiting at the Meda Maluwa (middle layer). Those flags were afterwards respectfully handed over to the Commander of the Army for placement at the foot of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya at the upper layer for symbolic blessings.
After the flags were laid on a bend of jasmine and lotus flowers at the foot of the Sri Maha Bodhiya, members of the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith, invoking blessings on Guardians of the Nation and extolled the Army’s contribution and dedication towards the motherland in a special Anushasana (oratory), made by a member of the Maha Sangha, present at the venue.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake, flanked by a large gathering of senior officers and other ranks afterwards observed religious rites and rituals as administered by members of the Maha Sangha before Ata Pirikara and a special cash donation were offered to the chief monk as a symbolic gesture of appreciation towards the Sangha fraternity.
Ven Nugathenne Pannananda Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Sri Jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura, Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Ven Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Nayaka Thera, Incumbent, Lankaramaya, Ven Eethalawetunuwewe Gnanarathana Thera, Incumbent, Mirisawetiya, Isurumuniya and Abhayagiriya Incumbents were associated with the day’s ceremony at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya.
Hundreds of representative Army officers and other ranks, attired in colourful military dress with their regimental and field formation flags aloft before the observances proper began, conducted a solemn march around the sacred tree thrice after they wended their way from the Makara Thorana (archway) to the premises. Chief of Staff and all Principal Staff Officers, Commanders-Security Force Headquarters and senior officers took part in the ceremony.
The Army, raised in October 1949 as the country’s most formidable land force to be reckoned with, is now comprised of 24 regiments, including volunteer ones, and engaged in a multiplicity of nation-building development projects since its landmark victory over terrorism in the year 2009.
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