Buddhist devotees lining up to ‘bathe’ or to pour pots of water around the roots of the sacred Bo tree on Vesak Day, on the compounds of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya temple near Colombo yesterday. Vesak is the full moon day which marks the birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’ or passing away of the Buddha. The Buddhist majority populated Sri Lanka celebrates this day with religious observances and colourfully lit lanterns, pandals and ‘dansalas’, where food and refreshments are offered to pedestrians since ‘giving’ is considered to accrue merit.