Swadeshi Khomba illuminates Devundara Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu MahaDevalaya for the 13th consecutive year
The Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC the pioneer herbal – personal care products manufacturer once again illuminated the Devundara Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya along with Aluthnuwara Sri Dadimunda Maha Devalaya.
The “Aloka Pooja” was carried out under the theme, “Swadeshi KhombaAloka Puja Sathkaraya”, during the annual Esalafestival. Aluthnuwara Sri Dadimunda Maha Devalaya was illuminated by Swadeshi for the 02nd consecutive year.
Ms. Amari Wijewardene, Chairperson of Swadeshi said that as a Sri Lankan owned company, we consider it a duty to safeguard the culture and traditional heritage of Sri Lanka by supporting activities such as this annual AlokaPoojawa.
She further observed that, Swadeshi illuminates places of worship in the country for the benefit of all worshippers and also to educate the younger generation on the importance of safeguarding the country’s heritage. The illumination is followed by a colourful cultural pageant which highlights Sri Lankan traditions and history.
The original Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu MahaDevalaya, which was destroyed by the Portuguese was built by King Dhapulusen in 661 AD. According to Buddhist literature, the Buddha before he passed away had asked the God ‘Shakra’ to protect Buddhism in Sri Lanka. God ‘Shakra’ had entrusted this duty to the God ‘Uthpalawarna’- meaning “colour blue” resembling the colour of God ‘Vishnu’, hence the DevundaraDevalaya is known as the Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu Deva Mandiraya.
Situated in the Kegalle district, the “Aluthnuwara Sri DadimundaMahaDevalaya” was built during the Dambadeniya period. It is believed that when King Parakramabahu II was passing through Aluthnuwara on his way to Sri Pada, he was very impressed with the place and decided to donate the property to the temple. Buildings were added on to the devalaya during the reign of King Panditha Parakramabahu IV. The place was known as Nawatilakapuraya and later it became Aluthnuwara. “DedimundaDeiyo” is the guardian deity of the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.
In 2013 the ‘Sri DaladaMaligawa’ of historic Dambadeni Raja MahaViharaya, where the sacred tooth relic was kept and the ancient murals were renovated by Swadeshi Chairperson Ms. Amari Wijewardene to bring back its past glory.
Ms. Amari Wijewardene is the great granddaughter of Helena WijewardeneLamatheni, who initiated renovations of the Kelaniya Raja MahaViharaya in 1927.
Swadeshi also supports the annual AlokaPoojawaof Kataragama Kiri Vehera, RuhunuMaha Kataragama Devalaya, Sella Kataragama Devalaya, Mahanuwara Sri Vishnu MahaDevalaya, SabaragamuMaha Saman Devalaya, RedigamaRidiViharaya, Lankathilaka Raja MahaViharaya, Deraniyagala Saman Devalaya, AmmaduwaKuda Kataragama Devalaya, Dambadeniya Raja MahaViharaya and Keragala Raja MahaViharaya.
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