Cassandra is very conscious she writes her Cry on Vesak day and her readers will read her when the aura of Vesak still surrounds much of this island. This aura is now a mixed one. Change in cities Cassandra nostalgically remembers the environmental ambience and the feeling that pervaded and prevailed in Kandy say fifty years ago.
People paid homage to the Sacred Tooth in the Dalada Maligawa, not crowded then; with piety in heart and mind. Illuminations dotted the city and scattered locations: simple, dignified and traditional – the coloured bucket with a lit candle inside and the pol thel pahanas with their flickering light arranged in novel patterns. Ingenious persons proudly displayed attapattams.
Often, notwithstanding the South West Monsoon prevailing, a brilliant moon shone down on a serene city with peaceful people with sanctity and the Buddha’s word in mind. Cities are still pervaded with the aura of sanctity, as at dawn, white clad crowds wend their way to temples and meditation centres. Come evening, more so in Colombo, raucous life resounds; pandols compete with each other; and politics creeps in with political VIPs invited to declare them open.
Danselas still abound with genuine charity giving meals or snacks. However, the aura is more of commercialism than sanctity. The simplicity that Buddha emphasised is overlaid and even obliterated by opulence.
It is like the white paper atapattam that hung in its pure naturalness is now covered with glistening water proof.
