Vap Full Moon Poya Day
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
25 Oct 2026 Sunday | BankPublicMercantile |
15 Oct 2027 Friday | BankPublicMercantile |
Overview
Vap Poya, in October, marks the end of the three-month Vas rains retreat and is traditionally associated with the Buddha's seventh year after enlightenment, when he is said to have spent the retreat teaching the Abhidhamma, the more philosophical and psychological analysis of his teachings, to his mother and the assembled gods in the Tavatimsa heaven, before descending back to earth at Sankassa in India. The end of Vas is marked by the Kathina ceremony, one of the most meritorious traditions in Sri Lankan Buddhism: over the following month, lay communities gather to offer newly woven robes and other requisites to the monks who completed the retreat, a custom that dates back to the Buddha's own lifetime and remains widely observed at temples across the island today.
Significance
The end of Vas is traditionally marked by monks resuming travel and alms rounds, and by the Kathina ceremony, in which lay devotees offer new robes and requisites to monks over the following month.
How it's observed
You may see Kathina robe-offering ceremonies at temples in the weeks following Vap Poya. As usual, alcohol sales are banned nationwide on the day itself.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.