Preparing for pageantry

The Gangarama temple is bustling with people. Even though this is not unusual, today instead of the flowers and scented sticks, they hold brooms and pans. Instead of people sitting in the corner, heads bowed in prayer today they are vigorously polishing old brass lamps.

Five boys have climbed on to the rings of the bright white stupa erected right in the middle of the premises and are busy wrapping a heavily worked gold cloth flag around the bottom part of the gharbaya.