Navam Full Moon Poya Day
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
01 Feb 2026 Sunday | BankPublicMercantile |
20 Feb 2027 Saturday | BankPublicMercantile |
Overview
Navam Poya, in February, commemorates two formative events early in the Buddha's ministry: the appointment of his two chief disciples, Sariputta, given the title Dharmasenadipathi ("General of the Dhamma"), and Moggallana, given the title Dharmapurohita, and separately, the first Buddhist Council, convened three months after the Buddha's death, at which the Vinaya, the code of monastic discipline, was formally recited and settled by the assembled monks. While many Poya days are associated with ancient pilgrimage sites elsewhere on the island, Navam Poya is most closely associated with a comparatively modern tradition: the Navam Perahera, a large procession around Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake in the heart of Colombo, first held in the 1970s. It has since grown into one of the capital's biggest annual Buddhist processions, featuring decorated elephants, traditional Kandyan dancers and drummers, drawing large crowds along the lake each February.
Significance
The Navam Perahera is one of Colombo's largest annual Buddhist processions, featuring elephants, traditional dancers and drummers, and is a relatively modern addition (started in the 1970s) to the older tradition of temple peraheras elsewhere in the country.
How it's observed
If you're in Colombo, the Navam Perahera around Beira Lake is worth planning an evening around, though roads nearby get busy. Like all Poya days, alcohol sales are suspended nationwide.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.