Poson Full Moon Poya Day
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
29 Jun 2026 Monday | BankPublicMercantile |
18 Jun 2027 Friday | BankPublicMercantile |
Overview
Poson, in June, ranks second only to Vesak in importance on Sri Lanka's Buddhist calendar, marking the arrival of Buddhism on the island in the 3rd century BCE. According to tradition, King Devanampiyatissa was hunting deer near Mihintale, close to the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, when he encountered Arahant Mahinda, son of the Indian emperor Ashoka, who had travelled from India as a missionary monk. Mahinda is said to have first tested the king's intellect with a series of riddles to judge whether he was ready to receive the teachings, before delivering a sermon that led the king to embrace Buddhism and adopt it as the kingdom's religion. Mihintale has been revered ever since as the "cradle of Buddhism" in Sri Lanka, and on Poson Poya each year, close to a million pilgrims dressed in white make the climb up its rock-cut steps, alongside large crowds at Anuradhapura and across the surrounding Cultural Triangle.
Significance
According to tradition, Mahinda (son of the Indian emperor Ashoka) met King Devanampiya Tissa at Mihintale, near Anuradhapura, and this encounter is regarded as the formal arrival of Buddhism on the island in the 3rd century BCE.
How it's observed
Mihintale itself becomes a major pilgrimage site, with thousands of white-clad devotees climbing its rock-cut steps. Anuradhapura and the surrounding Cultural Triangle see especially strong observance. Alcohol sales are banned nationwide as on every Poya day.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.