Ill Full Moon Poya Day
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
24 Nov 2026 Tuesday | BankPublicMercantile |
13 Nov 2027 Saturday | BankPublicMercantile |
Overview
Il Poya, in November, commemorates the Buddha's decision to ordain and dispatch sixty of his earliest and most accomplished disciples as missionaries, instructing them to travel in different directions and teach the Dhamma "for the welfare and happiness of the many," out of compassion for both humans and gods. It's regarded as the founding moment of organised Buddhist missionary activity, the beginning of a tradition of outward teaching that would eventually carry Buddhism from India across Asia, including to Sri Lanka itself centuries later. Within Sri Lanka, the November full moon also traditionally marks the closing point of the Kathina robe-offering season that began at Vap Poya, and it's associated with the founding of Thuparamaya in Anuradhapura, said to be the first stupa built after Buddhism's formal establishment on the island, where many devotees still travel to offer flowers on this day.
Significance
The occasion is regarded as marking the beginning of organised Buddhist missionary activity, with the newly ordained monks dispatched in different directions to teach.
How it's observed
Observance is generally quieter than the major festival Poyas, with the usual nationwide ban on alcohol sales.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.