Winnipeg Sri Lankan community builds massive, freestanding display [Video]

A new, towering structure celebrating a cherished Buddhist festival will light up the Winnipeg sky this month.

The freestanding display is known as a thorana, which means gateway or arch in Sanskrit. They depict Buddhist stories using dynamic lights and artwork.

The local Sri Lankan community decided to create Manitoba’s first to celebrate Poson, a festival marking the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka during the June full moon.

“It was just an idea and then it became a reality with a lot of effort from many people,” said Anuradha Kariyawasam, a member of the Manitoba Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Association.

Anuradha Kariyawasam is pictured during a June 19, 2024 interview. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg)

Manitoba’s thorana is over 25 feet tall and features over 7,000 light bulbs and 15 paintings.

The paintings tell a Buddhist story about vengeance between two kings, and the prince who helped them find peace.

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