Lihini Jayawardene
COLOMBO
Poson Full-Moon Poya Day also known as Poson Poya or just Poson, is a very important day for the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is the day which marks the arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. The Poson Full-Moon Poya Day is held in the month of June. On this day, Buddhists visit Mihintale. This was the place from where Arahat Mahinda first preached the then ruler of Anuradhapura, King Devanampiyatissa.
Story of Arahat Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa
After Emperor Dharmasoka changed the Dig Vijaya policy to the Dharma Vijaya Policy, he sent Buddhist missionaries to different countries. He sent a missionary to Sri Lanka as well. Arahat Mahinda Arahat Ittiya, Arahat Uttiya, Arahat Sambala, Arahat Baddhasala, Sumana Samanera and the layman Bhanduka Upasaka were in the missionary.
One fine day, King Devanampiyatissa went hunting with his men in the royal park, ‘Missaka Pawwa’. While hunting, the king saw a deer and aimed at it. However, he was not able to do it as he was taken aback by someone calling him, the king, by his name, ‘Tissa’. The king wondered who dared to call him by name. Then he saw Arahat Mahinda in yellow robes. The Arahat asked the king some questions, then he preached Buddhism to the king. From that day onwards, the day Arahat Mahinda brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka is celebrated by Buddhists in the country.
Celebrations on Poson
On the Poson Poya, Buddhists across the country go to the temple and pray while the monks narrate Buddhist stories to the laymen. People make beautiful lanterns and pandals. People also hang Buddhist flags in
their homes. There are also dansalas
(stalls of free food) as well.
Since the arrival of Arahat Mahinda to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Buddhists have made it a habit to celebrate this day religiously and wholeheartedly. Ceylon today
