NAMSAI, Oct 13: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has extended his best wishes to the Buddhist community on the auspicious occasion of Satang Potwa (Pavarana) which marked the end of the three-month rain retreat. 
While delivering his sermon, Venerable Vimalatissa underlying the importance of the celebration said that Satang Potwa is a day of both historic significance and an opportunity to make merit, benefiting not only the members of the monastic Sangha but also lay Buddhists who are blessed with the opportunity to welcome one another with metta-loving-kindness and compassion, thereby enhancing harmony within the community. Participating in the auspicious occasion at Kongmukham (Golden Pagodo), Mein took part in enshrinement of Nimitta (boundary marks) stone at Sima Hall or Sammuk Kathing (Ordination Hall) in  presence of Abbot of Kongmukham, Venerable Vimalatissa. 
The Abbot described that Sima is an important edifice being situated within the consecrated area marked by boundary stones used for activities relating to disciplinary affairs of the Sangha. It is a technical term, denoting the official boundary of the Ordination Hall, a place where the Sangha performs recitation of patimokha or ordinations. Mein hoped that coming up of this important and special structure would add to the beauty and architectural splendour of Kongmukham  where a large number of people can participate in the ordination ceremony at a time. The day was also observed with traditional enthusiasm and zest by Theravada Buddhists throughout the state by performing various meritorious acts. Devotees thronged their temples to undertake the Five or Eight Precepts which also included long period of chanting, paying homage to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, accompanied by offerings of food, flowers, incense, lamps and other items. 
The ceremony was then concluded by sharing the accumulated merit with relatives and all sentient beings.Kathina robe-offering ceremony will be followed soon after the conclusion of Satang Potwa for the monks or nuns who have observed three-month rain retreat where lay Buddhist devotees would offer donations to temples particularly the new monastic robes which is one of the four requisites of the monastic life. DCM Media Cell

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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