WATER

Water is a transparent fluid, which forms streams, water falls, rivers, lakes, oceans, rain and atmosphere.  Its' chemical sign is H2O.  This means, water molecule contains single Oxygen atom and two Hydrogen atoms. Water is  very essential to our lives.  All the living things, such as humans, animals, trees and creepers, too, need water.   Water is the only thing, which has three configurations, such as liquid form - water, solid form - ice and gaseous form - water vapour in the world.  It also exists as snow, fog, dew and cloud.  We can survive without food for nearly one month or so, but without water, we cannot survive even one week.  So, the water is an indispensable requirement for the human life and over-all for all known forms of life .

Water covers 71% of the earth, as seas and oceans, ponds, streams, water falls, lakes, rivers, ice bergs, clouds, air and so on.  Only 2.5% is the remaining freshwater, prevailing in the earth.  From that water, 98.8% is in ice bergs and in groundwater.  Even the smaller amount of the earth's freshwater is in the biological bodies and in the manufactured items.  The water in the human and animal bodies are in the form of blood, sweat, hormones, enzymes, saliva, mucus, etc.  Although, human body is containing water, we need to take water into our bodies from outside, as drinking water and through food.  We need water to bath and clean ourselves, too.  Also, we need water to clean our utensils, clothes and other things, which are lying in our surrounding area.  Trees and creepers take water into their system through their roots from the ground, but for small saplings, which we plant in our home gardens and in pots, we have to water them regularly.

Water on earth moves continuously through the water cycle of evaporation and transpiration.  People need water to cultivate food.  Without water, we cannot imagine, how we are going to survive, as water is a significant part of our lives in many ways,  Ancient kings in Sri Lanka knew about the value of the water and they made huge tanks, as lakes, and they collected every drop of rain water in those lakes.  Even still our farmers and people, who are living in remote areas use this water for cultivation, bathing, washing and for drinking purposes.  Using springs, people dig wells and use the clean water for their various needs.

In Middle East countries, they used to purify the sea water, spending a large amount of monies, as those desert lands are lack of water.  This decontaminated water is being used to water the trees and for washing purpose.  Some countries import clean drinking water, while spending a lot of money.   The people, who are having clean water for their consumption in their own lands are very fortunate people.  Therefore, we must try to protect water, as much as possible.

We should avoid wasting water, which is very vital and precious thing in our lives.  Historically, the people used to worship natural resources like water, as they knew the usefulness of this translucent liquid.  Unfortunately, now-a-days living creatures are running after the artificial things and never bothered to secure the natural sources, like water.  They do not try to protect water, but to waste it lavishly, without thinking twice of the importance of it.  We hear that no rain and the nature is dry everywhere in the globe and the ice bergs in the world are melting gradually.  Once you loose something only, you feel the worthiness of it.  We hear that our neighbouring country, India, too, is loosing drinking water slowly.

We, Sri Lankans are blessed with uncontaminated water, but in the past few years, we heard about  terrible water scarcity in the remote areas in the South and North.  Our own brotherly folks suffered very much, without water.  Therefore, this is the correct time to think to secure our natural resource - water, which is needed by all the living beings.

Like our ancient folks, we have to take precautions to protect water, as much as possible.  If we see any tap is leaking in the road, office or somewhere, we have to inform to the relevant authorities and get it repaired, as quickly as possible.  Also, we must help the Government to make new lakes, tanks, and public wells,  We, also, can clean and protect the old lakes to fortify water to enable people to make use them for their day-to-day necessities.

Please open your eyes now itself and take necessary measures to give a helping hand to preserve this essential and  magnificent liquid - WATER ~~~!!!  

**Abstracted some facts from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water

- Mrs. Shrimal Champika Wickremasinghe -

POSON FESTIVAL

In spite of other countries in the world, Poson Full Moon Poya Day is very consequential for Sri Lankans, as Arahat Mahinda brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka from India, with his other group. Arahat Mihindu is the son of one of the most exemplary rulers in the world - the Emperor of India,  Ashoka, who then governed the Northwestern territories of the Mauryan (Modern day Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan) in the 3rd Century BC.  For Buddhists in Sri Lanka, this hallowed day of Poson is second only to Wesak, in terms of importance. 

Arahat Mahinda and his team has come to Mihintale of Anuradhapura and met the ruling King Devanampiyatissa, when he was hunting deer in the forest.  Though Poson is celebrating through - out the Island, Mihintale (situated in Anuradhapura) is the center of celebrations of Poson, because Arahat Mahinda has delivered his initial discourses to Primier Devanampiyatissa and his group. King Devanmapiyatissa and his multitude of army has been converted to Buddhism then and there.   Afterwards, Poson Full Moon Poya Day/Poson Festival is being celebrated in June annually through-out the country.  

With the establishment of Bikkhu Sasanaya, all the other elements of a civilized society, such as art and craft, art of writing, literature, river civilization, religious rituals of song and dance forms have been emerged, with the support of royal patronage.    

People make pilgrimages to Mihintale and Anuradhapura during Poson Festival Season, as the Arahat Mihindu first put his foot to preach Buddhism on the top of the hill of Mihintale and his sleeping cave and the pond, which he used to bathe, are also situated in the Rock of Mihintale.  That is why the Mihinthalaya is called as the "Cradle of Buddhism" in Sri Lanka.  Devotees from every corner of Sri Lanka  worship the temple at Mihintale and then climb-up the top of the mountain and worship Dagabas, which lies  all around the hillock.

There are a plenty of religious activities, such as campaign of observing precept, bodhi pooja, oil lamp pooja, Poson devotional songs, almshouses - offering free food and drinks to people, such as, rice and curries, beli fruit flowers, coriander, sago, tea, coffee, etc.  Mihintale and surrounding area of Anuradhapura are being decorated by various coloured bulbs, Poson Lanterns, Pandol (thorana), which commemorate the Jathaka Katha (Stories of Lord Buddha's previous births) in various sizes and shapes.  Those Poson Lanterns and Pandol are embellished to sparkle and glitter for eye-catching of the adults and children, as well.   These decorations make a wonderful scenic and picturesque beauty in the night of the Poson Day.  

Other temples in Sri Lanka, too, are organizing many devotional activities on behalf of Poson Festival.  People get dressed in white to observe Atasil in the temples and attend to various kind of religious activities during Poson Full Moon Day.  There are a lot of almshouses in every city and village to offer free food and drinks for the people.  

This mighty festival of Poson is significant for all living creatures, who understand the devoutness and sacredness of a religion, which means the authenticity of the mankind.  

Poson Full Moon Day has been fallen on the 2nd of June in this year - 2015.

**Abstracted some facts from : http://www.lanka.com/events/Poson-Festival/

- (Mrs.) Shrimal Champika Wickremasinghe -