Katina Pinkama Held at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya

Katina Pinkama Held at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya - Trincomalee

Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya is a well known historical place where the Lord Buddha's live Hair Relics are placed ("Girihandu Seya"). This place was also severely damaged by the LTTE during the war.

When women Lawyers went on their local trip to Trincomalee in 2013, we visited this historical Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya. After offering flowers and other poojas to Girihandu Seya , our Vice President, Mrs. Sandhya Thalduwa with the consent of the President, Mrs. Yamuna Gunasekara decided to do the Katina Pinkama in 2014 at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya and informed the Chief Incumbent of the Temple.

Accordingly on 12th August 2014, Esala Full Moon Poya Day, President Mrs. Yamuna Gunsekara, Vice President Mrs. Sandhya Thalduwa and the Secretary Mrs. Pramudtha Senaratne proceeded to Thiriyaya Girihandu Seya Temple and offered Sangika Dhana to the monks and invited "Was" for the next three months.

Whole night Pirith Ceremony followed by Sangika Dana took place at the Temple on the 28th and 29th of September respectively as a traditional custom during "Was" season.

From 1st to 2nd October 2014, "Katina Cheewaraya" was placed at the residence of the President, Mrs. Yamuna Gunsekara, from 2nd to 3rd October at the residence of the Past Vice President, Ms. Pushpa Rupasinghe, from 3rd to 4th October at the residence of the Past President, Mrs. Chathurika Wijesinghe, from 4th to 5th October at the residence of the Secretary, Mrs. Pramuditha Senaratne, from 5th to 6th October at the Treasurer, Mrs. Swarna Jayaweera's sister's residence and finally from the 6th to 8th October at the at the residence of Co-Vice President, Mrs. Sandhya Thalduwa. Many of our members visited these places and attended religious ceremonies organized in each residence.

After the Pirith Ceremony on the early morning of the 8th October, to the sound of the Hewisi Group, "Katina Cheewaraya" together with 140 numbers of "Ata Pirikara" were taken in procession to the Police Head Quarters at Trincomalee. The President, Vice President and the Secretary participated in the vehicle procession and handed over the "Sacred Katina Cheewaraya" to the Head Quarters Inspector. Senior Deputy Inspector of Police Eastern Province, Deputy Inspector of Police Trincomalee, Senior Superintendent of Police Trincomalee Division and the Assistant Superintendent of Police Trincomalee were also present at this religious event.

The following day the "Sacred Katina Cheewaraya" was placed at the Kuchchaveli Police Station and thereafter proceeded to Army Detachment of the area where Thiriyaya Girihandu Seya Temple (Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya) is situated.

On the evening of the 17th October, a "Kapruk Pooja" was offered to Girihandu Seya with a "Bodhi Pooja". On the same day, an all night Pirith chanting ceremony took place at the Girihandu Seya Temple premises. Katina Perahera with "Sacred Katina Cheewaraya" proceeded to the temple from the Army Detachment along with dancers, drummers and flutes. A Sangika Dana was offered for fifty Buddhist Monks in the morning and Sangika Dana for hundred Buddhist monks was offered in the noon with hundred "Ata Pirikara" and other Pirikara.

On the day of the Katina Pinkama, an Eye Camp was also organized and we distributed spectacles after examination by a qualified Optometrist. We also distributed school bags, stationery, story books and exercise books to school children in the area. More than forty women Lawyers and their family members travelled from Colombo and attended this religious event.

We are grateful to our Co- Vice President, Mrs. Sandhya Thalduwa and ASP & Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Nihal Thalduwa for all the support extended to our Association by taking the lead role in organizing this pinkama. Hon. High Court Judge of Ampara, Mr. Sumudu Premachandra and Mrs. Kusha Walagedera, Past Presidents, Mrs. Pushpa Nanayakkara and Mrs. Chathurika Wijesinghe, all the Office bearers, Committee members and their friends and family members, Mr. Gamini Jayaratne and Mrs. Chamari Jayaratne, Mrs. Mallika Hemachandra, members of the Homagama Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, Mr and Mrs. Weerasinghe, Mr. Chinthaka Jayakody, Mr. Arosha Jayakody, Mr & Mrs. Dayarathna, Mrs. Seetha Kodagoda, Villagers of Baduraliya (a village situated in Kalutara District), Army personnel in the area, Navy Commander and his wife, TID officers attached to the Police Department helped us in numerous ways to make this religious event a success.