Abu Dhabi Vesak Day was celebrated in a grand manner at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Ground on 19th May 2017 with the participation of well over 5000 Sri Lankan expatriate community members in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Sri Lanka Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi, one of the affiliated community associations to the Embassy organized the event under the patronage of the Embassy facilitating Sri Lankan expatriate community together with fellow expatriates from different countries to experience vesak celebrations, which is the most venerated festival in Sri Lanka.
Abu Dhabi Vesak began with a colorful elegant performance of vesak perehera depicting ancient Kandyan Dalada Perehera by the children of Sri Lankan expatriate community in the presence of H E the Ambassador and other distinguished invitees. Abu Dhabi City Golf Club ground was compacted with thousands of devotees and visitors to witness the colorful and prestigious vesak perahara performed by the children along with other vesak celebrations items. The event was illuminated by colorful vesak pandals illustrating ‘Jathaka Katha’ created by several community associations and individuals including the Alumnae of Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) in Abu Dhabi, which attracted many visitors to the event. A number of ‘Dansala’ were organized facilitating visitors to enjoy Sri Lankan food while witnessing traditional vesak celebrations with fellow expatriate communities. The event was also featured in a number of cultural presentations, vesak dramas, ‘Bhakthi gee’ and traditional dance items by the children of Meshan Dissanayake Dancing Academy and Rangadhari Rangayathanaya, Sharjah.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr. S J Mohideen elaborated the importance of the vesak, in particular, that Abu Dhabi Vesak was celebrating on the eve of Sri Lanka hosting and celebrating the 14th Vesak Day of the United Nations with a number of international participants from 85 countries. H E the Ambassador further highlighted the fact that Abu Dhabi Vesak was celebrated by Sri Lankan expatriates representing all religious groups: Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and Christian expressing the Sri Lanka’s unity and interfaith harmony.
Embassy of Sri Lanka Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates
