Gaya-model lantern in Colombo
A Vesak lantern kept near Gangaramaya temple in Colombo this year has attracted many tourists. The lantern is an additional attraction this year as it has been modelled on the “stupa” at the Mahabodhi temple in Gaya, Bihar.
Key facts:
- Lanterns are an integral part of the Vesak Poya festival (Full Moon in May), which is celebrated to mark three important events in the life of Buddha — birth, enlightenment and death.
- The Mahabodhi temple, one of the oldest brick structures in eastern India, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in June 2002.
- Located about 115 km south of Patna, the temple is regarded as one of the four holy sites related to the life of Buddha.
- According to the UNESCO, this was the first temple built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC. However, the present temple is of the 5th-6th century CE, belonging to the late Gupta period.
- Another special feature is that the temple is believed to have had a significant influence on the development of brick architecture over the centuries.
