Nikini Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka

When did the Nikini Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka start?

About Nikini Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka Holiday

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is an important religious holiday celebrated by the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka. This special day is held in honor of Buddha and is celebrated in the month of July or August. This commemorative occasion is significant to the people of Sri Lanka, for it marks the day when the Buddha appeared on Earth and gave his first sermon.

During Poya Day, many people in Sri Lanka take time out to visit local Buddhist temples and pay their respects in sacred offerings of flowers, fruits, incense and candles. These are all symbols of respect for Lord Buddha and his teachings. Special alms-giving ceremonies are also held in which people make offerings of food and clothing to the needy. Prayers and chanting by the monks are also part of the religious observances.

Following the end of the festivities, many families gather together for a joyful celebration, complete with festive music and traditional foods. This important religious and cultural festival is an important part of the Sri Lankan community and helps to promote unity and peace among the people. It serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting and honoring all spiritual traditions.

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day, Sri Lanka – Introduction

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is a holiday celebrated in Sri Lanka, which celebrates a significant accomplishment of the Buddha more than 2500 years ago. It is believed to be one of the most important days in Sri Lankan history as it marks the day when the Buddha attained enlightenment – an incredible triumph of soul and spirit. Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is one of the most revered and important days of the Sinhala and Tamil calendar, where Buddhists observe this day with utmost respect, devotion and reverence.

History and Origin

Nikini Full Moon Poya day is a holiday celebrated in Sri Lanka to commemorate the day the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment. It is believed that this holy event took place on the full moon day of the month of Nikini (April/May) in 588 BC, underneath the Bodhi Tree in the city of Uruvela in present day India. This was the moment the young Siddhartha Gautama unlocked the secrets of life and death, turning him into a powerful and mighty force of supreme knowledge – an entity that would come to be respected and revered by all for centuries to come.

Significance and Meaning

Since ancient times, Nikini Full Moon Poya Day has been celebrated as a reminder of the great Buddha’s activities, values and noble teachings. It is revered as one of the most important and meaningful days in Sri Lankan Buddhist culture and religion. By commemorating this day, Buddhists strive to adhere to the sublime ideals and morals of the Buddha, looking up to him as a source of abundant knowledge and wisdom. Today, Buddhists in Sri Lanka observe Nikini Full Moon Poya Day through a celebration of mindfulness and meditation.

Traditions and Celebrations

The traditional celebrations of Nikini Full Moon Poya Day typically start with morning prayers and chanting at sunrise, followed by offerings at local temples, including furniture, books, and clothes which are dedicated to the Buddha and his noble teachings. Depending on the temple, the celebrations may include a strict vegetarian meal, followed by an elaborate procession, bhajans, and poetic readings. The central focus then shifts to the ceremonial pouring of holy water over a symbolic representation of the Buddha, which cleansifies the entire congregation and brings in blessings from the heavens. Prayers, offerings to the local deities, and a ‘Dansala’ (free-food stall) offering food to monks and the general public, complete the day’s festivities.

Geographical Spread

Although Nikini Full Moon Poya Day was born in the Sri Lankan Buddhist culture, it has now spread far and wide across many South Asian nations that practice Buddhism. In countries such as Thailand, Nepal, and India, it is marked with equal solemnity and reverence, although the celebrations may vary from region to region.

Modern Day Observations

Today, Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is usually celebrated with greater intensity in Sri Lanka, with followers of the traditions flocking in large numbers to the main shrines and temples to pay their respects. Aside from the traditional observances, modern day festivals and programs involving seminars, debates, film screenings, and other activities are held to commemorate the day.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is the full moon day of the month of Nikini, also known as Vesak, which marks the day of the Buddha’s birth, death and enlightenment.

• For Buddhists, Nikini Poya or Vesak is the most important of all full moon days.

• The first full moon in Nikini or Vesak is celebrated as the day of the Buddha’s enlightenment, the second full moon is celebrated as the day of his first sermon and the third full moon is celebrated as the day of his passing.

• Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is also closely associated with rituals and festivals like the perahera in Sri Lanka, where the Buddha’s relics are carried in a procession across the country, usually by devotees dressed in elegant costumes and traditional attire.

• Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is celebrated all around South Asia, with a few unique regional variations.

Conclusion

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is a special and meaningful day in Sri Lanka and all over South Asia. It is a day to reflect on the teachings of the great Buddha and to celebrate his path to enlightenment. Through acts of mindfulness, meditation and charity, modern Buddhists are carrying this rich tradition forward. On the grand occasion of Nikini Full Moon Poya Day, may blessings and joy pour down from the heavens and bring with it peace to our lives.

How to Say "Nikini Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka" In Different Languages?