9 years and below
Why I love my mother
My mother is a very important person in my life. She cooks tasty and healthy food. She encourages me in my studies. My mother is an Executive Officer in the government sector. When she comes home I tell her about my day. She listens to me. My mother is very kind. She washes my clothes. She teaches me good manners. My mother tells me fairytales. When I become sick, she takes care of me. I have two brothers. My mother loves our family very much. She works hard to take care of us. She likes gardening. I like to do gardening with her very much. She always helps me to stay happy with my father and brothers. There are not enough words to tell how much my mother is important to me. She is very lovely and I know she is the best mother in this world. I love her very much.
Kaveed Semasinghe (7 years)
Don Bosco English Medium School, Nochchiyagama
13 – 15 years
The Festival of Vesak
The air is scented with the aroma of flowers. The entire world is tranquil as the world prepares
for Vesak. The Festival of Vesak is the most important and sacred day for Buddhists around the world. Vesak, which is celebrated on the full moon ‘Poya’ day in May, commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of Lord Buddha. It is a time when each and every Buddhist refrains from sin and observes ‘sil’.
During Vesak, Buddhists decorate their homes with colourful lanterns, lights and Buddhist flags.
The frames of these lanterns are made of bamboo and are decorated with oil paper. These
lanterns are extremely pretty and eco-friendly. Another tradition during this season is to make
‘Thoran’. These are structures that illustrate a ‘Jathaka Kathawa’. Jathaka Katha are stories that
depict the earlier lives of Lord Buddha.
To me, Vesak means much more than decorations. It is a time when Buddhists cultivate the Four
Noble Truths which are loving kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. Alms and aid are provided to anyone in need. A good example of this is ‘Dansal’, where people give food and drinks freely from stalls on the road. These stalls are open to anyone of any race or religion.
Sadly, in the present, our traditions are becoming scarce. We must protect these traditions for
future generations. I hope that Vesak will be able to illuminate our world with kindness and
compassion for thousands of years.
Hansi Millawithana
Musaeus College, Colombo 7
