Poya Significance

Nikini Poya is the second Poya in the Vas season and falls during August. This poya marks the anniversary of the first Buddhist council (Sangayana) held after the Supreme Buddha’s passing away.

On the Poson full moon poya we celebrate and remember the great gift of Dhamma that Arahant Mahinda brought to the Land of Lanka.

The Buddha, in the fifth year of his Supreme Enlightenment, returned to Sri Lanka on a Bak Pura Pasaloswaka Poya Day.

It was in the seventh year after the enlightenment of Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gautama Buddha that He, together with 20,000 bhikkus set out from Rajagahanuwara to Kapilawasthu

This full moon has special significance for Buddhists in Sri Lanka as it marks the appointment of Arahant Sariputta (Sariyuth) and Arahant Moggallana (Mugalan) as the first two chief disciples (Aggasavakes) of Gautama Buddha.

Durutu Poya is a key religious and historic date in the calendar for Sri Lankans as it marks Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka on the ninth month after attaining Enlightenment.

In the 3rd century BC, Arahant Sangamitta Theri, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka brought a sapling from this Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka, arriving on Unduvap Poya day.

This Poya celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance of becoming a Buddha) by the Bodhisatta Maitriya.

The beginning of Bhikkhini Sangha took place on a Binara full moon poya day.