Colombo, Sri Lanka - Thousands of Sri Lankans gathered at temples after media reports that colored images of the Buddha had begun emitting miraculous rays.
Large crowds gathered at temples and in front of statues along main roads in the majority Buddhist country to try to witness the phenomenon, but experts said it was only an optical illusion.
"I saw the 'rays' and knew it was because of an optical illusion," said electronics engineer R. Weerasekara. "But I didn't want to say it in front of so many believers and disappoint them."
Top Buddhist monk Pitiduwe Siridamma debunked the miracle rays theory floated in media reports and said the religion did not encourage such misconceptions.
"If you really want to see Buddha rays, learn the Dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha) and attain enlightenment," the monk said. "That is the only way. Now they are only causing traffic jams."