Observing the Poson Festival in Sri Lanka – Commemorating the Arrival of Buddhism

Poson Festival | Image Credit: Hafiz Issadeen (YIM Hafiz), Dharga Town, Sri Lanka (https://www.flickr.com/photos/yimhafiz/), Poson Pandal at Aluthgama, CC BY 2.0

Commemorating when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka, the annual Poson Festival fell on 16th June this year. Celebrated on the full moon day in June, this revered day is when devotees across the island remember the arrival of Buddhism in the third century BC. The key incident during this time was the conversion of King Devanampiya Tissa to Buddhism after hearing a sermon by Arahat Mahinda from India.

Many Buddhist devotees make their way to Mihintale during this time since this is where Arahat Mahinda is believed to have preached his first sermon. Religious traditions are observed at Buddhist temples across the island during the Poson Festival which tourists can also witness. Temples like the Sangamiththa Viharaya, within easy reach of resorts Trincomalee has to offer including Trinco Blu by Cinnamon and the Kalutara Chaitya in the south coast are a few such sacred sites.