In Sri Lanka, there is a significant festival closely connected with the moon — the Full Moon Poya Day. Each month, on the day of the full moon, Sri Lankans celebrate this occasion. With twelve full moons in a year, there are twelve Poya Days in total. Each one is closely associated with the life of the Buddha and holds its own special religious significance.
Among them, Vesak in May is the grandest Full Moon Poya Day of the year and the most sacred festival in Sri Lanka.
In Sinhala, Vesak symbolizes the Buddha’s perfect wisdom and virtue, complete blessings and enlightenment, and the state of purity and equality. This festival is held to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing (Nirvana) of the Buddha, as all three pivotal events in his life are believed to have occurred on this very day.
Birth: On the Full Moon Day of May in 623 BC, Prince Gautama Siddhartha was born under the Sal tree in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu.
Enlightenment: On the Full Moon Day of May in 588 BC, Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, becoming the Buddha.
Parinirvana: On the Full Moon Day of May in 543 BC, the Buddha entered Parinirvana in Kushinagar.
Therefore, as these three great events are commemorated on the same day, Sri Lanka observes a national holiday and holds grand celebrations when Vesak arrives.
During the festival, the whole of Sri Lanka transforms into a sea of lanterns, with lanterns hanging in front of every home. On the streets, you’ll see magnificent archways adorned with colorful lights, lantern exhibitions showcasing various creative designs, and even the Lotus Tower, the tallest building in Sri Lanka, illuminated in celebration. The countless lanterns lighting up the island symbolize the Buddha dispelling darkness and bringing the light of wisdom to all beings.
Apart from the lanterns, the second most prominent feature of Vesak is the presence of alms-giving stalls. The stall owners offer food and various supplies to passersby, aiming to cultivate six virtues — selflessness, kindness, gratitude, wisdom, harmony, and humility.
On this day, devout believers also visit temples to pay homage, offer fresh flowers, and gather to listen to and discuss Buddhist teachings.
On this special day, every corner of Sri Lanka is filled with peace and serenity, creating a soul-refreshing celebration.
In 1999, Vesak gained international recognition and was officially designated as the United Nations Day of Vesak. Every year, global celebrations are held to highlight its profound significance for world peace and spiritual awakening.
