Poi Potwa celebrated at Itanagar

Poi Potwa was celebrated today at Theravada Buddhist Vihara Itanagar to mark the end of Satang Potwa. This festival is generally celebrated to pay homage and reverence to Bhikkhus by the devotees.

The tun patesha (celestial tree) ceremony remained the most adorn occasion of the day. A procession with the celestial tree decorated with different denominations of money, other materials and flowers was carried out around the Theravada Buddhist Vihara by the lay devotees with pious and devotion to earn merit. The celestial tree and its carrier are made well in advance for the devotees to decorate it and carry in around during the procession. The procession was carried out by every member with recitation of religious chants and beating of drums and cymbals.

The decorated tun patesha along with Sang-kaan (yellow monk’s robe) will later tomorrow be handed over to the Bhikkhu Sangha in a simple but impressive function in morning. There is no specific day to observe the tun patesha ceremony and Theravada members usually fix the ceremonial day just after the celebration of Satang Potwa (end of rainy retreat).

Added attraction of the day was the illumination of candle in Vihara (Temple), preparation of local traditional sweets and community feast.