Poson Full Moon Poya Day.

Poson festival is the second most important Buddhist religious festival celebrated by all the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and all over the world annually. Poson full moon poya day falls in June every year and on this special day, Sri Lankans were fortunate to understand the unimportance of the myths that they had been practising and also to overwhelm the philosophy Buddhism. The hunting, worshipping of trees, rocks, super natural elements etc were stopped practising after the arrival of Arahant Mihindu Maha Thero with the most valuable gift Buddhism from India in the 3rd century BC. It was a turning point in Ceylon that made the citizens more disciplined, civilized.

The following reasons emphasise the significance of  Poson full moon poya day. 

• The arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
• Preaching of chulla hatthi padopama sutra for the first time to King Devanampiyatissa and 40000 laymen by Arahant Mhindu Maha Thero.
• They became the followers of the Buddhist philosophy.
• Gathering of Gods to Mihinthale accepting the invitation of Sumana Samanra and listening the Samachitthapariyaya sutthra. 
• Attaining monkhood by Banduka upasaka

The government of Sri Lanka has declared from 12th to 18th as an official Poson week and the theme of Poson festival 2019 is " Sabbe Nasanthi Dhandassa". Though all the Sri Lankan Buddhists celebrate Poson festival in all the regions of the country the major celebrations can be seen in Anuradhapura and Mihinthale areas. The sil programmes, alms giving, bodhi pooja are usually practiced in temples and schools. The arrangement of free food stalls, decorating houses, lighting oil lamp fences in roads, exhibiting pandols etc are some of the tasks that Buddhists take part with. 

Poson poya day is not only introduced Buddhism  for us but also it helped people to strengthen with literature, art, dancing, writing etc. Therefore Poson festival and Poson Poya day are very close to Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

📷 courtesy- www.pinterest.com, sridaladamaligawa.lk