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Duruthu Full Moon Poya

HIGHLIGHTS
Religious Event, Cultural Event, Dancing, Animal Parade
DATE
27 Jan 2022 - 29 Jan 2022Add to Calendar 2022-01-27 17:00:00 2022-01-29 16:59:00 Title Description Location Centara Hotels and Resorts [email protected] UTC public

Celebrated across Sri Lanka, this event is one of the most important occasions in the calendar for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It marks the day when 2,500 years ago, the Buddha first visited the island to deliver sermons to two warring tribes on the island. After listening to his teachings, the fighting ceased. According to the ancient texts of Sri Lanka, the local God Sumana Saman was so impressed by the Buddha’s teachings that he invited him to leave his footprint on the peak of Samanala Mountain. The Duruthu Full Moon Poya marks the beginning of the three-month pilgrimage season, where people travel to the mountain peak to worship at the footprint of the Buddha.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya

Duruthu Full Moon Poya

Across Sri Lanka, full moon days known as ‘poya’ are celebrated each lunar month. Shops and businesses are closed and the occasions are marked as national holidays. Each of the full moons, including Duruthu Poya, has its own name and is celebrated uniquely. In 2021, Duruthu Poya falls on Thursday 28th January.

A spectacular procession (known as a perahera) takes place at the Raja Maha Vihara temple in Kelaniya, a suburb in western Colombo. The spectacle attracts thousands of visitors, who come to witness the breath-taking procession of musicians, dancers and animals.

 

Getting to Kelaniyah’s Raja Maha Vihara Temple

Take any bus travelling from Colombo or Pettah towards Kandy. Disembark in Kelaniya town and take a tuk-tuk for the final stretch of your journey to the temple.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya
Duruthu Full Moon Poya
27 Jan 2022 - 29 Jan 2022Add to Calendar 2022-01-27 17:00:00 2022-01-29 16:59:00 Title Description Location Centara Hotels and Resorts [email protected] UTC public

Celebrated across Sri Lanka, this event is one of the most important occasions in the calendar for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It marks the day when 2,500 years ago, the Buddha first visited the island to deliver sermons to two warring tribes on the island. After listening to his teachings, the fighting ceased. According to the ancient texts of Sri Lanka, the local God Sumana Saman was so impressed by the Buddha’s teachings that he invited him to leave his footprint on the peak of Samanala Mountain. The Duruthu Full Moon Poya marks the beginning of the three-month pilgrimage season, where people travel to the mountain peak to worship at the footprint of the Buddha.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya

Duruthu Full Moon Poya

Across Sri Lanka, full moon days known as ‘poya’ are celebrated each lunar month. Shops and businesses are closed and the occasions are marked as national holidays. Each of the full moons, including Duruthu Poya, has its own name and is celebrated uniquely. In 2021, Duruthu Poya falls on Thursday 28th January.

A spectacular procession (known as a perahera) takes place at the Raja Maha Vihara temple in Kelaniya, a suburb in western Colombo. The spectacle attracts thousands of visitors, who come to witness the breath-taking procession of musicians, dancers and animals.

 

Getting to Kelaniyah’s Raja Maha Vihara Temple

Take any bus travelling from Colombo or Pettah towards Kandy. Disembark in Kelaniya town and take a tuk-tuk for the final stretch of your journey to the temple.