When did the Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka start?
About Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka Holiday
Today we honor the Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka, a national celebration that commemorates the first discourse given by Buddha to his five ascetic companions. Adhi Esala Poya is a momentous day in Sri Lanka, meant to bring back a shared spirit of compassion and love, similar to the compassion and love felt by the five ascetics when listening to the words of the Buddha.
On this day, Buddhists across the country come together to pay homage to the teachings of the Buddha and people gather in temples to worship and receive blessings from the monks. Every family partakes in the traditional fasting ritual to commemorate the significance of the day while partaking in traditions and activities meant for subtle contemplation. Songs and rhymes of this day are intended to cultivate joy, happiness and mindfulness.
The Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is a special day to celebrate one's spirituality to help make the world a better place. Buddhists, spiritual leaders, and those devoted to positive transformation of the world, come together to join in the international spirit of love over a global connection of understanding. Let's come together to create peace, harmony and acceptance as we honor this day of Buddhism.
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka – A Comprehensive Guide
History and Origin
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is one of the most important holidays in the Sri Lankan annual calendar. It is celebrated on the Adhi full moon poya day, which corresponds to the July-August full moon. This holiday marks the first sermon that was given by Buddha. The sermon preached to his five companions at the ISipatana Deer Park in India. It is believed that the sermon was so powerful it changed each of the five companions forever.
The origins of Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day go back to Sri Lanka’s ancient past. It is believed that this holiday was first commemorated by ancient kings of Sri Lanka as far back as 2nd century B.C for their many achievements. The holiday has continued to grow in notoriety and it is now celebrated across Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is considered a special day of rejoicing as it marks the coming together of the entire nation to observe this special day. This day is also known as the ‘Kiribata Poya’ or the ‘Moon Day’, when the moon appears small and round in the night sky.
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is typically preceded by a period of abstinence from alcohol, meat, and any kind of animal product in keeping with the Buddhist culture as this is the month of washing away one’s sins.
Significance and Meaning
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is an important day for Buddhists in Sri Lanka and other countries in the region. It is believed that the first Buddhist sermon by Buddha was given on this day and is thus a sacred day for Buddhists all around the world.
To commemorate this special day, Buddhists visit temples and venerate the temple with offerings. This is done to symbolize the qualities of Buddha himself, which are qualities that all Buddhists strive to embody in their own lives.
The Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day has a special significance for Sri Lankans. Not only is it commemorated in the form of celebrating Buddhism, but also because of the historical significance. It commemorates the first sermon given by Buddha and subsequent events that led to Sri Lanka’s great religious and social progress.
Traditions and Celebrations
On the day of Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya, Buddhists typically gather in Buddhist temples to pay homage to the teachings of Buddha. They bring offerings and chant the triple refuge for Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Then they make merit by offering food to the resident monks and lay-folk.
The devotees also place lamps in the temple compound as a reminder of the Triratna or ‘Threefold Path’. This path consists of the path of morality, mental development, and wisdom.
During the Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day, Buddhist devotees typically observe the eight or ten precepts, which is a set of moral guidelines designed to guide the moral behaviors of Buddhists. The set of precepts emphasizes the importance of refraining from killing living beings, stealing, and intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs.
The people observe incredible self-restraint and take great care to respect the sanctity of the day apart from attending religious ceremonies. The holiday is a chance for Buddhists to together and express their unity.
Geographical Spread
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is celebrated throughout Sri Lanka by devotees of all Buddhist denominations and energetic traditions. The holiday is also observed outside of Sri Lanka, primarily in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, where Buddhism is commonplace.
In Sri Lanka, Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is spiritually important and meritorious for people from all walks of life. People visit temples to gain relief from their troubles as well as for their religious needs. Sri Lankan Buddhists who are away from the country often stream live broadcasts from Sri Lankan temples on the day assigned for the celebration.
Modern Day Observations
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is still vigorously observed in modern times. Each year, thousands of devotees from all over Sri Lanka travel to sacred sites in addition to the major cities, to take part in the colorful celebration and festivities.
In urban and suburban cities in Sri Lanka, special stage shows are organized to commemorate the holiday. Musical performances, traditional folk dances, and dramas are performed to entertain the crowd to help bring the merriment of the event to life.
Moreover, devotees of Buddhism partake in various activities during Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day. They go to special blessings that are organized at Buddhist temples and charitably share the merits of the day with others. Making donations, performing good acts, and praying are some of the popular activities associated with the holiday.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
• This holiday is celebrated on the full moon day of the Adhi month of the Buddhist lunar calendar.
• Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is an important day for the Buddhists of the Kalutara district in Sri Lanka, as this is where the temple believed to witness first sermon mentioned in the scriptures is located.
• The day marks the inception of the Buddhist religious order in the world, as it was on this day that Buddha went on to develop the foundation of Buddhism.
• Devotees of Buddhism celebrate this day by eating vegetarian food and avoiding alcohol, at least until midnight.
• On this day, devotees usually wake up early to pay homage to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha as well as perform productive activities such as volunteering and acts of charity.
• On this day, the faithful wear traditional clothes to temples or other places of observance. Women usually wear white and men in white and saffron.
• It is sometimes referred to as “Magha Poya”, which is the Pali name for Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya.
• Buddhists light lamps and candles at their homes in honor of the teachings of Buddha.
• On this day, Buddhists celebrate the teachings of kindness and compassion painted by Buddha.
• The festival day also marks the practice of the eight or ten precepts, which is a set of moral guidelines designed to cleanse the mind and practice the Buddhist teachings.
Holiday Wishes
1. Wishing you a very joyous Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day.
2. May your heart be filled with joy and your soul with peace.
3. May your life be illuminated with the divine light of wisdom and kindness on Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day.
4. May this Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day bring you lots of good fortune and success.
5. Wishing you a wonderful Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day.
Holiday Messages
1. Happy Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day! May all beings on this day be free from all suffering and sorrow.
2. Happy Adhi Esala Full Moon PoyaDay. May you celebrate this day and be ever mindful of the true values of life and the teachings of the Buddha.
3. Wishing you a very joyous Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day. May the joy and peace of this special day fill your life with light and love.
4. Have a peaceful and a blessed Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day filled with happiness and joy.
5. Have a meaningful Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day. May you be blessed with immense wisdom and joy.
Holiday Quotes
1. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha
2. “He is able who thinks he is able.” – Buddha
3. “The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.” – Buddha
4. “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” – Buddha
5. “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
Other Popular Holiday Info
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is one of the most important holidays in Buddhism, which is why special importance is given to the observe of this day. In addition to observe the religious obligations of this day, devotees and people from all walks of life take part in activities that aim to strengthen the religious and cultural ties among people and communities.
Special ceremonies and rituals are performed in Buddhist temples during Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day. These include the lighting of lamps, the recitation of prayers, and the chanting of protective mantras.
The day provides the opportunity for devotees to live and cherish the teachings of the Buddha and furthering their spiritual growth. It also emphasizes the importance of leading a simple life and of being kind and generous to others.
On a personal level, Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day promotes the values of morality, tolerance, patience, and understanding among the devotees. These are values and qualities that can help people make wise decisions and lead a life of fulfillment.
Thus, Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day is a day for everyone, not just Buddhists, to commemorate and celebrate the power of the teachings of Buddha and its impact on humanity.
Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka Also Called
Esala Perehera. The Esala Perehera is an annual Buddhist festival held in Kandy, Sri Lanka, in honor of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. The procession, which is held during the Adhi Esala full moon poya day, features many elaborate elephants bearing caskets of jewels, dancers, drummers and torch bearers. Each year, hundreds of thousands of devotees attend the procession in celebration of their Buddhist faith.
FUN FACT:
In year 1120, Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka is celebrated on July 20 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!