Wel Bodhiya
It is one of the famous sacred Fig trees rising at one corner of the Maligawa premises. There is a legend behind this Bo tree which I might relate in a future post.
This site gets pretty crowded with devotees of all ages, especially during the big exam seasons like the Year 5 Scholarship, O/Ls and A/Ls. The whole Bo tree gets covered in flag festoons and small pieces of cloths wrapping coins and notes around then. Some of these flags have inscriptions of blessings with or without the name of the persons in question *(= exam candidate, etc.).
And then they keep pouring pots and pots of water to the roots of the Bo tree, sometimes sprinkled with sandalwood powder, jasmines and what not. It's all good but.. do they ever wonder even the Bo tree is a tree and there's a specific amount of water it can absorb and the excess water will only damage its roots. We had that issue in our village temple's Bo tree too and now it's finally been resolved.
It's nice to water the Bo tree to invoke blessings but.. just not too much. Also I've heard that if we light too much incense sticks, their smoke too can harm these trees. Same goes for lighting too many oil lamps.
I hope sometimes in the future our environmentalists *if they do exist here* will bring up some policies on how to continue our age old rituals and traditions without harming these sacred trees or the environment.
PS: At least I can't blame these big exam seasons, cause that is the only time when most seemingly non-religious people become all too devoted and sainted. But the parents should know if their children don't study well, the supernatural powers alone can't make them get through these exams.
*As usual CTRL + Click to expand the pics.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAPCy2u9mKpREdoJtRAQoPj9T1vsF1Mk38yKQrV1unpCyk7ipAmh-9BL9UdNVZFpqXwHffh-e4HNmc59UDu9JCHuB6p1Xh-lsVYBjJ-9Bau6veEg36giMfmzItUMVtdbktp_90iC_PUY/s320/P18-08-09_12.19%5B1%5D.jpg)
The view of the Bo tree and its surrounding fortification when we enter from the Maligawa side.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12qyAo3krJad-mkzgkXIhbSqjjDIo_oWX1hKx2W3wcMOUQRiD1pWEvm2rlyPzuRAPS9Xbyy6y-ecOsDKvCV4udIaoyQVlDLpFc2fnrHQ4Kjdsn31WJu2hM7ucTa18Wftcl8HZUxJ0dZs/s320/P11-03-10_13.26.jpg)
Lateral views
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jM13so21CeWpbFy2f5SlGoXcaJgdysk3uhFqTlSR3W5myyIYuQtlb1dqDQnk3ng7pgtIXkdPu8EAsUh2P7ilt9rLkFjPNg21v7aVJm-Iw6FcfKOsXmer9qVXNj_rCakpqiZNGq-yJRI/s320/P18-08-09_12.20.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8VLp-gTD_NqAY32QkRD5jzO6WxdodQ3WfbsGktQA0rLV6-HnbncP0ZWA_YKodkccmt8GqoggCigKeP5Iltvy6HXL3yD4IFufdqtIz1TMTXlM1HYwBGI1Un2Qwh-zsawaU_liiQR5bcI/s320/P11-03-10_13.25.jpg)
The topmost boughs and branches of the Bo tree.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTm-KZl8AD84YKe60JbuEAj_DqDi3SfmintlWtMS9_L_dm5aV9dxFUfTWSiHItLCJGFtZcmhd5zMkRzsQYmKAGl5GlsmUqej0ZMJ90gRIWmWLScO-f7_V7CytmsPXCwhHJPVjyk6h-a0/s320/P18-08-09_12.29%5B1%5D.jpg)
Taken from the Bo Maluwa (courtyard). The gateway in the distance leads to the Natha Devala (a temple dedicated to the deity called Natha) premises.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t1V9eaAtj6j6xYATjtHvrpdDvFrNuOl2xO-RQUDyOP1JOBMgmJNaKh5VUqD2u7yMRDW161Gw3oOr_VbHrH_4BYaHXQ3LBt4l-rdg3h3s70uushvKV7-7VRMQ_Su9wB-xM2Bpd7HmhRA/s320/P22-03-10_14.52%5B1%5D.jpg)
Vistas of the St. Paul's Church that sits quite close to the Wel Bodhiya.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbUr34sOPcWySybbieZt0cvgRjbxa0rLEUF2oTJj3aw9_XMPa803FBc1gCEWjG7-rmB_XjV0BWRVwUDX9rs2rJjgBcqC3SpQnfildfa-SmyPpbjgHTtZ5MvfqDM5RLPxEaoCODS08WKA/s320/P22-03-10_14.53.jpg)
Being able to capture Bo leaves and a historical church both in one shot is something quite unique.. in my perspective.. for they symbolize the harmonious coexistence of two different religions.
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That's all for now. ^__^