A village Vesak at Cinnamon Grand

Vesak signifies the largest Buddhist celebration of the year, commemorating three important events; Lord Buddha’s birth, his Enlightenment (nibbana) and his death. This year, Cinnamon Grand’s Village in the City recreated the magic of a village Vesak this year as the rural milieu shone with illuminated lanterns and Vesak buckets, setting a scene of serenity and celebration.

The hotel started off the Vesak weekend with an alms giving to 26 monks from the Bandaragama temple on 23 May. The ‘dane’ was held at Nuga Gama, with prayers and other ceremonious traditions, held in the true spirit of Vesak.

Cinnamon Grand’s associates joined their skills and expertise in constructing a fully sustainable pandol (thorana) made with materials found around the hotel and natural fauna and flora. This unique sustainable pandol was a narration of the ‘Nala Pana Jathakaya’, a famed historic tale known as a ‘jathaka kathawa’. The beautifully and creatively crafted pandol stood as testament to Cinnamon Grand’s commitment to sustainability as well as the unity, talents and innovativeness of the hotel’s associates.

Nuga Gama also hosted a ‘Saruwath Dansala,’ a station which served complimentary Saruwath, which is a uniquely colourful drink. A ‘dansala’ is traditionally a place where people congregate to socialise and enjoy the hospitality of the hosts, who give complimentary food or beverages as a good will gesture, in celebration of Vesak. Nuga Gama’s ‘dansala’ was therefore teeming with guest and associates who shared a moment of fellowship over a drink.

Cinnamon Grand associates also came together in a chorus of religious praise in a session of ‘Bakthi Ghee’, under the bright Poya full moon and the cooling evening breeze. Nuga Gama also laid out an extensive vegetarian buffet for lunch and dinner over the weekend, so that guests could indulge in authentic Sri Lankan rural cuisine, in celebration of one of the most important and celebrated events in the country.

Notably, this year’s celebrations were held in a sustainable manner with conscious efforts and measures taken to minimise energy consumption while being environmentally friendly in every aspect. This is in keeping with the hotel’s green vision of becoming the most sustainable city hotel by 2015 while reducing its carbon footprint by 10% each year.

Vesak at the Grand paid homage to Sri Lanka’s religious heritage while offering guests a traditionally local experience, bringing together associates in camaraderie, showcasing talent and offering hospitality in an environmentally sensitive manner.