India’s rich Buddhist heritage showcased at Gangaramaya Temple on Esala Poya

The High Commission of India, in Colombo, organized a special exhibition, showcasing India’s rich Buddhist heritage, to mark the sacred Esala Poya Day, at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo, on Monday (03). This day also coincides with the Indian festival of Guru Purnima, which is celebrated to honour the guru, or spiritual mentor, who imparts knowledge, guidance and enlightenment. It was on this Poya day that the Buddha preached his First Sermon at Sarnath in India.

The exhibition showcased a series of photographs depicting significant episodes from the life of the Buddha and some of the prominent Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. Photographs of over centuries-old sculptures and carvings in India were also exhibited. Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera and High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay took a walk-through of the exhibition.

The High Commission organised several such exhibitions on India’s Buddhist heritage, the most recent being the ones on the occasions of Vesak and Poson Poya this year at Seema Malakaya and Homagama Poson Zone respectively.