A thought for Wesak at Diyawannawa

'Prince Siduhath came to this world in a Wesak day. Ascetic Gothama became The Enlightened One in a Wesak day. The Enlightened One attained in to Parinibbàna in a Wesak day.'
From our younger days, that's what we had heard, we were taught about Wesak.

Wesak is to commemorate these three great incidents of the life of The Enlightened One. Wesak is the time to pay our homage to The Enlightened One. Wesak is for giving and for sharing. Wesak is to feel the peace and harmony in mind. Wesak is the time to experience the serene beauty of mother earth, time to talk to the green around us.

Wesak decorations, then?

It's true that Wesak decorations do not have any place in the teachings of The Enlightened One. But, they represent the Buddhist culture, our customs, our traditions and our heritage.

In the past, not many years ago, Wesak decorations made by our elders displayed the love and respect that they had for their teacher, The Enlightened One. Wesak decorations made by our elders brought in many values to their lives. Wesak decorations made by them touched the serene beauty of Wesak. They embraced the true meaning of Wesak.

Today?

Wesak decorations give a different message to what they used to be. They bring in nothing, but, mainly many colors of a fiesta.

Plastic dolls, electric bulbs, regiform dummies, siren horns, muppets and puppets, electric toys, lanterns dressed up in polythene bags … a long list to go.

The bond that Wesak decorations once had with teachings of The Enlightened One, for whom they were meant to be, is no more there. They are changed, modified and commercialized. No any turn back to be seen.