Poson Full Moon Poya Day is one of the most significant Poya days on the Buddhist calendar in Sri Lanka and the island is fully immersed in religious activities during this time. This day commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, a festival of great historical and religious significance celebrated island-wide by Buddhists. Poson Poya is celebrated annually on the full moon day of June and is the second most important Buddhist festival after Vesak.
On Poson Full Moon Poya Day, various religious activities are organized throughout the country. Many Buddhists visit viharas and temples for Sil campaigns, listen to Dhamma sermons, observe Sil, and engage in meditation. In addition to these religious practices, a remarkable ceremony that you can witness during this time is the Aloka Pooja (Light offering) at Mihintale, considered to be the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, where thousands of devotees carry out processions and religious rituals.
As part of the celebrations, the Poson Full Moon Poya Day also witnesses the creation of delightful and brightly colored Poson lanterns known as 'Poson thoran'. These lanterns, depicting scenes from the life of Buddha are put up in houses and public places as symbols of enlightenment. The epic scene where Arahath Mahinda preached Dhamma to the King Devanampiyatissa is enacted in dramas known as, 'Poson Deva Vasanawa'. These dramas, religious rituals, and the various activities that are carried out make the Poson Full Moon Poya Day a unique and serene festival.