Sri Lanka Air Force Aircraft Carries Blessed Pirith Water in Prayer for Rain
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — September 20, 2026: A Sri Lanka Air Force Y-12 aircraft took to the skies on September 19 in a symbolic Buddhist religious observance, carrying and dispersing blessed Pirith water over the skies of Sri Lanka as the country faces dry weather conditions.
Buddhist monks participated in the religious observance by chanting Pirith, traditional Buddhist protective prayers, while holy water blessed during the ceremony was carried aboard the aircraft and released from the sky.
The symbolic act was carried out as a prayer for rain, relief and renewal, with hopes that rainfall would ease the impact of dry conditions on communities, wildlife, vegetation and other living beings across the island.
Pirith is a traditional Buddhist practice involving the chanting of protective discourses from the Buddhist scriptures. Water blessed during Pirith ceremonies is traditionally regarded by devotees as carrying blessings and protection.
The aerial ceremony reflects the important role of Buddhist religious traditions in Sri Lankan culture, particularly during times when communities face environmental hardships.
The initiative is a spiritual expression of hope and compassion and should not be interpreted as a scientific method for producing rainfall.
As Sri Lanka continues to experience dry conditions in some areas, the ceremony carried a simple message of hope: a prayer from the skies for rain to nourish the land and bring relief to all living beings.
