May Mangalya celebrations
The month of May has been dedicated to the Holy Mary, Mother of God and the ‘May Mangalya’ or May Festival is an annual event celebrated on a grand scale by Christian, Catholics and the residents of the Bloemendhal Flats Kotahena to venerate the statue of the Holy Mary.
I was among the large crowd of devotees of different faiths gathered that evening, eager to follow the proceedings and make an on the spot report.
The Master of Ceremonies was Uncle Ranil ably assisted by the flat dwellers (irrespective of what faiths they belong to), to make this event a memorable one. The flat premises was gaily decorated with glittering jets and multi-coloured flags fluttering in the cool breeze of the eve and loud hailers blaring out religious hymns and songs.
The day’s programme commenced at 7 p.m. with the arrival of the distinguished guests, two Rev. Brothers from
St. Lucia’s Church, Kotahena and the St. Lucia’s College Band was in attendance to receive them and march them down the aisle to the stage to deliver their religious orations. The large turnout of devotees attired in their festival best, received the prayers and blessings of the Rev. Brothers.
The holy statue of Mother Mary, was then placed on a gaily decorated cradle, to the recital of religious hymns, and carried in procession along the streets of Kotahena, with a large number of devotees lined up alongside, with raised arms to invoke the blessings of the Holy Mother and the church bells tolling until the return of the holy statue to its original position in the sanctified glass enclosure.
After the heavy showers experienced recently, surprisingly the skies cleared up and a pleasant atmosphere prevailed throughout the proceedings which certainly served as a blessing in disguise and an answer to the prayers of the faithful. The day’s proceedings came to an end with the distribution of alms followed by a grand display of fireworks and the large gathering of devotees dispersed peacefully.
Ahmed Umar Asri
(14 years)
Zahira College, Colombo