Plus
|
|
|||
| An
act of compassion Waiting by the side of the road the organizers flag down passing vehicles to offer them some refreshment. Other stalls have queues of people awaiting their turn for a meal while organizers and volunteers work non-stop to make places available for hungry newcomers. How
and when did dansal become part of Vesak? Explaining the historical background, he says that there are many records to prove that dansal have been held during the time of the kings. Unlike today's dansal, which have only food in offer, he says that records speak of dansal being held to help the poor and sick with clothes, medicine and other donations. More often, these were done under the sponsorship of the king. "For them, it was a method of looking into the welfare of the people," Prof. Rohandheera says. He spoke of many stone inscriptions that mention dansal during the reign of King Nissankamalla who had a permanent venue constructed for them. "Some stone pillars of the 'Nassanka Dhana Salawa' are still to be seen in the ancient city," he adds. King Dutugemunu, who according to the Mahawamsa celebrated 24 Vesak festivals during his reign, organized many a dansala. History also speaks of King Mihindu of the 4th century who also indulged in charity work of the same kind. But Prof. Rohanadheera stresses that these dansal were held not only for Vesak, but right throughout the year. “Now the organizers might have dansal during the Vesak and Poson festivals as it is convenient,” says Chief Incumbent of the Wevaladeniya Vihara, Kegalle, Ven. Hemmathagama Siddhartha, adding that the festive days being holidays, it makes it much easier for organizers to plan out charitable activities on a large scale. "The philosophy of the Buddha goes hand in hand with the concept of giving and sharing," he says. Lord Buddha has preached on the blessings one can gain in giving and fulfilling the needs of the poor. "Giving a dansala is an act of compassion," elaborates Ven. Siddhartha. "There are many stories related to Buddhism that depict the good things that can happen to a person who performs such good deeds," he says, referring to the stories of Sumedha, God Sakra and the Vessanthara and Illisa Jataka stories. Ven. Siddhartha feels that people should also be mindful of the hygiene factor. "Dansal tempt people to drop by to eat and drink. Therefore the organizers have an obligation to maintain some sort of culinary standard," he advises. Those who come to Colombo from other areas of the country can't miss the line of dansal down Bauddhaloka Mawatha. The traders who organize these dansal say that it is sometimes difficult to find the perfect spot to build their stalls. "We have to consider the traffic and whether there is enough space for people to park. As there are many Vesak kudus down this road, we have to arrange the location months ahead," says one organizer. "Organization is not difficult since everybody loves to take part," says V. Jinadasa the chief organizer of one dansala. He and his colleagues have been providing cool drinks and rice packets for the last 13 years and say that there are some regulars who come every year. "We start organizing in April," says he adding that the dansala was earlier done with the money collected from the pavement sellers union of which he is a member. "Since last year, two villages have joined in and prepare the rice for us," he says. Nearly 700 kilos of rice are cooked and packed while 3000 bottles of cool drinks are served. Before the dansala starts, they invite a priest for a bana and pirith. A group of three-wheeler drivers who have organized 16 dansal in the past in Maharagama say they have had occasional problems in collecting donations. "We also collect money from the shops nearby. Once we ended up in the police station, because one shop owner thought we were extorting money," said one. Despite such setbacks, they are determined. "Nothing can stop one when one is doing good." He is very hopeful that it won't rain on Vesak. "If it rains, people are less likely to come," says he. Dansal are not always a collective effort, for there are some who prefer to do them on their own like Yee Shion Koon who has held a dansala for nearly 30 years now. "Every day I put aside some money out of what I earn to collect adequate funds to hold the dansala," he says. Having lost his father when he was very young, he faced many difficulties in building up his career to become a well-established entrepreneur. "As a child, I regretted that I could not give a cup of tea to my father with my own hands," he says adding that this is the reason he holds a dansala. Today, he gives away about 500 parcels containing seven items of dry rations and a free meal of rice and curry in a stall set up in front of his shop. "I see some people dressed well, but by experience I know if they have empty stomachs," he says. He hopes his children will follow his example. He feels that children should be taught the virtues of generosity and kindness to all living things. "This year I'm expecting my son in Singapore to join me," he adds. The free food is not only meant for those who can't afford it. "Even well-to-do people get down from their vehicles to have dinner at our dansala," says D.P.J.Gunasekara, organizer of the dansala in front of the Eye Hospital in Colombo. They have held it every Vesak for the last six years, "so we are well-known and people look forward to our dansala," he adds. He says that he and his colleagues are happy at being able to provide dinner for families that come from far away areas to see the pandals and other illuminations in Colombo. Many young people too are part of the dansala tradition. A group of youth in Kiribathgoda who are getting ready to organize their annual dansala said they have the support of their neighbours for their ice-cream dansala, being held for the sixth time. For them, it is a community affair. This group includes Buddhists as well as non-Buddhists. Harsha, 13, revealed that he is joined by his "church and mosque going friends" to go from house to house to collect money for the dansala. "We help them to decorate their houses for their festivals and they join us for Vesak to make lanterns and to organize the dansala," he says. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
