"Weekly Contest 35 || The Diary Game || Made a Bodhi Puja at Anuradhapura on behalf of my friend’s illness"

senehasa (74)Verified | Friendin Steem Kids & Parents • last month

Hello, guys, Today I decided to share my day on Saturday, June 6, 2025, by participating in this contest.

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One of my neighbors is suffering from breast cancer. It was found very recently as she got the pain in one breast. The doctor had advised her to be admitted to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital for surgery on June 11th. As neighbors, one of my friends (Mrs. Ranasinghe) and I decided to accompany her to the Anuradhapura Jayasri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweliseya to make a Bodhi Puja on behalf of her surgery.

Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

Anuradhapura is about 176 km away from our city, Gampaha. It takes about 4 hours to get there by bus. So we decided to start our journey at about 4:00 a.m. My husband dropped us off at the Miriswatta Junction, where we would catch the Anuradhapura bus. The bus drove very fast without stopping anywhere for breakfast. Therefore, we arrived at Anuradhapura Town by 8:30 a.m.

We had our breakfast at a hotel in the town. We ate milk rice with Katta sambal and also a cup of coffee. Then, we fulfilled our other sanitary needs also.

From town to the Jayasri Maha Bodhi, there were three-wheelers, van service, and bus service. We took a three-wheeler, and it cost only Rs. 200.00 to Jayasrimaha Bodhi.

As there were many shops near the Jayasri Maha Bodhi, we bought flowers, oil, and other offering things. Next, we went to Jayasrimaha Bodhi and offered a Bodhi Puja on behalf of my neighbor. We were there for about one and a half hours. As it was Poson week, Anuradhapura town and the temple were decorated with bulbs and lanterns to celebrate Poson.

We then made our way to the Ruwanweli Seya on foot. The temperature was high at around ten in the morning. It was difficult to walk on the hot sand. Normally, it is forbidden to enter a Buddhist place wearing shoes, but we can wear socks. Fortunately, I had a pair of socks. But my neighbors suffered from the heat due to barefoot.

Then we made a vow to Ruwanweli Seya, that we would come back after her recovery and offer milk food. It took more than two hours to complete our offering. Because it was Poson and a holiday, Anuradhapura became crowded that day.

We made a vow to the Ruwanweli Seaya on behalf of our friend.

Atapirikara offered by devotees around the Ruwanweli Seya.

The time was 12:30 p.m. when we left the Ruwanweli Seya. Next, we arrived at the car park and caught the 3-wheeler to Anuradhapura Town. After dropping us off, the driver requested 400 rupees, and then I said we had only given Rs. 200.00 in the morning to go to Jayasri Maha Bodhi. Then he stated that it was 400.00 rupees from the Ruwanweli Seya. As we entered the 3-wheeler without asking about the costs, we paid the sum as we had nothing else to do.

As it was lunchtime, we entered the hotel and ate rice and curry. For dessert, we ate yogurt.

We decided to come back by train, so we went to the Anuradhapura Railway Station. But, unfortunately, the train had left at about 1.30 p.m. As it was 1.50 p.m. we decided to come back by bus as we had done in the morning. Every 15 minutes, the bus leaves from the bus stand up to Colombo. So, we got on a bus and came. The bus stopped at the Kurunegala for tea, so I drank a Highland milk bottle, and the other two drank Nestlé coffee with vegetable roti.

I failed to capture the images to share with you because my phone's battery was dead. But I do have some photos that I took using my phone before it died.

_{Our sick friend}

_{Our sick friend and other friend}

At about 6.30 p.m., we returned to our home. We were very happy as we could make a Bodhi Puja at the Jayasri Maha Bodhi for the blessing of our neighbor's surgery. My neighbor was also very happy about our care. She said that she would take us to Anuradhapura once she recovered, at her cost. We requested her to first recover and then think about that later.

In the night, I went to bed feeling satisfied because we could show our kindness to our friend. It may be a small thing, but it might bring a lot of encouragement to our friend's mind.

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