Sunday Times 2
Embassy in Washington DC celebrates Vesak at the White House
View(s):Vesak was ceremoniously marked at a special event at the White House in Washington DC on May 5.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka to the United States brought together envoys from several countries with Buddhist populations and initiated an effort to celebrate Vesak in a manner comparable with similar White House festivities to commemorate other major world religions. A written communication was addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken by the Heads of Mission of Cambodia, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, requesting a celebration of Vesak.
Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe highlighted the importance of the event and expressed hope that in the years to come that these celebrations will be conducted with presidential patronage, on par with celebrations that mark festivals of significance in Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
Venerable Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Washington Buddhist Viharaya and Venerable Katugasthota Uparathana Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Maryland Buddhist Viharaya, were among those who delivered sermons along with the several other religious dignitaries who graced the occasion.