Day 75 - It was a public holiday today. Tamil Sri Lankans were celebrating Thai Pongal. Because of the long weekend, we decided to do something religious too.
Jay, his sister, and I went to a nearby Buddhist temple because the weather was perfect and many others would use the time to visit too. Generally Buddhists, such as Jay's family, visit temples on full-moon Poya days which are also holidays in the country. They also go on special occasions and to visit well-known sacred places when travelling in the country.
The Bellandwila Vihara is only around six kilometers from Jay's sister's house.
It is a venerated temple complex because it contains a 2300-year-old sacred Bo tree. This tree is a direct descendant of the very fig tree in which Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment in Bihar, India around 500 BC. The particular tree here is one of five remaining from about 32 saplings which sprouted within a week of the planting of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Jay and his sister brought along incense, coconut oil and wicks to light. Jay's sister also bought purple lotus flowers as offerings from vendors across the street. They also filled temple water jugs with water to pour into special pipes that feed into the tree's enclosure. This helps to keep the ancient tree alive.
After, we stopped across the street for some iced coffee and snacks at a Perera & Sons shop. I used the app to arrange for a Pick Me ride share to come back.