Articles tagged with “buddhistdevotion”

Tens of thousands of pilgrims in Kandy face harsh conditions during the rare public display of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the first in 16 years. Elderly and vulnerable devotees endure extreme heat, dehydration, and lack of basic facilities while waiting in long queues for limited viewing hours. Health officials warn of potential fatalities due to severe exhaustion and inadequate medical support. Volunteers report people collapsing and fainting, with no immediate relief measures in place. Many pilgrims arrived days early, sleeping on streets with minimal provisions. Critics accuse authorities of poor planning despite years to prepare. Calls grow for extended viewing hours and better crowd management to prevent further suffering. Temple officials have yet to respond to demands for urgent improvements. The relic, central to Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage, is displayed for just five and a half hours daily until April 27. Without intervention, the event risks being overshadowed by preventable human suffering.