Srilanka, April 5 -- The Maha season New harvest festival took place today at the historical Gal Vihara sacred grounds in Polonnaruwa under the patronage of the Head of State.

Ven. Wendaruwe Upali Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Solosmasthana, provided religious counsel during the event. Attendees included Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, Deputy Minister of Housing Development T.B. Sarath, Polonnaruwa District Secretary Sudantha Ekanayake, the Thamankaduwa Divisional Secretary, state officials, and representatives from farming organisations.

Farmers offered the first harvest of the Maha season to the Buddha by placing new rice into a large bowl established at the Gal Vihara. The proceedings began with monks carrying the rice from the his...