The National 'Aluth Sahal Mangallaya' or the New Rice Festival was held this morning (4) at the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Celebrating its 58th iteration, this year's festival was themed "One Sheaf for a Secure Nation through Agriculture."
The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services, under the guidance of the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
During the ceremony, the first portion of the newly harvested rice from the Maha season was offered to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero commenced the ritual of filling the golden bowl with new rice, accompanied by the chanting of the Maha Sangha. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also participated in this traditional ceremony.
The commemorative momento for the 58th National New Rice Festival was presented to the President by U.B. Rohana Rajapaksa, Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development, and Professor A.L. Sandika, Director of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.
In a traditional honey offering to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a clean honey pot was presented to the President by Indigenous Deputy Leader W.U. Gunabandia.
Additionally, the traditional offerings of ghee, kithul jaggery, and red lotus flowers were presented to the President by W.M.P.M. Weerakoon, Assistant Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs in Ratnapura and Supervising Officer of the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya.
Subsequently, these offerings were ceremonially handed over to the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero, by the President for the veneration of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
During the event, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also honored the farmers for their contributions.
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