Army War College attained ‘Vas’ Observances of Hermits at Budugallena Forest Hermitage in Buttala

The 49th episode of ‘Vas’ Observances or ‘Vas Visseema’ (Rain Retreat) of Hermits at Budugallena Forest Hermitage (Aranya Senasanaya) in Buttala was held on the Esala Poyaday of 01st August 2023 with the participation of numerous Buddhist devotees of the area and elsewhere who posed and rushed to the forest hermitage themselves with pious propensities in white attire.

The day’s formalities were brought to an end with the virtuous invitation of ‘Vas observance’ or rain retreat for three months from the ‘Esala Poya’ onwards in connection with the annual rainy season. Commandant of Army war College Brigadier U K D D P Udugama RWP RSP USP ndc psc who attended the observances with a team of partisans from the Army War College and virtuously invited the Chief Hermit Bikkhu of the hermitage Ven Uduwara Dhamma Rakkhitha Thero and was bestowed with the obligation of looking after him for the next three months where another 28 disciples of the neighborhood, selected in a random draw, were also bestowed with the responsibility of looking after other 28 hermits inherent at the same hermitage.

Budugallena is an ancient hermitage widely known as the ‘Budugallena Aranya Senasanaya’ lying deep inside the jungle of Rahathungala mountain range near Buttala and according to legends, this complex was developed by a son of Theraputtabaya who was one of the Generals of King Kawanthissa (205–161 BC).