The National New Rice harvest Festival aka. ‘Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya’ was held under the chairmanship of President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (02) in the presence of Anuradhapura’s historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
Traditionally, this new rice harvest festival of offering newly harvested paddy of Masa season to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi was organized for the 56th time by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Services as per the advice of the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegema Hemarathana Thera.
Many farmers from all over the country gathered for this ritual, which has been going on since the time of the kings. They prayed for the rains and the fields to be fertile, and the country and the nation would be self-sufficient through agriculture and have a prosperous economy.
Joining the new rice harvest festival, the President first paid his respects to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and took his blessings.
The procession began near the Anuradhapura Lion Pillar before entering the Sri Maha Bodhiya premises through the Walimaluwa.
Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegema Hemarathana Thera, started filling the golden bowl with new rice, after which the golden bowl was filled with rice brought from all the other provinces.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe also joined the occasion by filling the golden bowl with rice amidst the chanting of the Maha Sangharatne.
For the honey offering traditionally offered to Lord Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the pure honey bowl was presented to the President by the Uruwarigewannila Aththo, and for the ghee oil offered to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the bowl of ghee brought from Sabaragamuwa historical Saman Temple was presented.
Mr. Chinthana Vilegoda, President of the Organization for the Protection of Traditional Wheat Farmers, presented a bundle of rice pods full of pods corresponding to the President’s age to President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe also distributed the seeds and varieties of paddy to the farmers covering all 9 provinces.
The digital print of the 56th National New Rice Harvesting Festival commemorative issue was also presented to the President.