- Title: Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka pray for improvement of COVID crisis in India
- Date: 2nd May 2021
- Summary: KENALIYA, SRI LANKA (MAY 01, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF HISTORIC KELENIYA BUDDHIST TEMPLE RINGING OF TEMPLE BELL ANNOUNCING BEGINNING OF CEREMONY DEVOTEES CLIMBING STAIRS OF TEMPLE VARIOUS OF BUDDHIST MONKS COLLECTING FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF PRELATE OF KELENIYA BUDDHIST TEMPLE, KOLUPITIYE MAHINDA SANGARAKITHA THERO SAYING: "Our neighbour, Indian people suffer (are suffering) a lot because of this COVID-19. Actually as a religious people and also especially the Buddhist monks and the Buddhist people in this country, (we) want to share our sympathy with the people of India" VARIOUS OF BUDDHIST PRIESTS CHANTING RATHANA SUTHRA, BUDDHIST DISCOURSE VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES JOINING HANDS AND LISTENING SANGARAKITHA THERO CHANTING ON MICROPHONE DEVOTEES SEATED
- Embargoed: 16th May 2021 06:57
- Keywords: India Kenaliya Sri Lanka coronavirus health monks pandemic prayers
- Location: KENALIYA, SRI LANKA
- City: KENALIYA, SRI LANKA
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001EB9PFM7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka on Saturday (May 01) prayed for the improvement of the COVID-19 crisis in India.
Monks at the historic Keleniya Buddhist Temple began chanting the holy 'Rathana Suthra' verse which will continue for one week.
India's new coronavirus cases rose by 392,488, while deaths from COVID-19 jumped by 3,689 over the past 24 hours, according to health ministry data released on Sunday. India's total caseload now stands at 19.56 million with 215,542 killed by the virus.
The Sutra was first preached by Buddha more than 2600 years ago when a pandemic had devastated the ancient Indian kingdom of Vasala.
Since then the Sutra is recited during times of hardship believing the practice would eradicate the pandemic.
When Sri Lanka was shut down due to the virus in March last year, Buddhist clergy recited the Sutra every night for one month. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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