Sri Lankan Buddhists Celebrate New Year in Indiana

April 23, 2004

Source: The Journal Gazette

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/8466556.htm

On April 23, 2004 The Journal Gazette reported, "The New Year, called Aluth Avuradah in Sinhalese, the language of Sri Lanka, is based on a lunar calendar and occurs April 14, said Sriyan Perera, a member of the Indiana Buddhist Temple on Webster Street. The Sri Lankan immigrants rang in their first new year in their year-old temple Sunday with Buddhist services, a feast and traditional games... About 30 Sri Lankan immigrants and about 1,500 Buddhists live in Fort Wayne, Perera said. The city is home to five Buddhist temples, each affiliated with a specific Asian culture."