Vesak Full Moon Poya Day is Today

The Vesak Full Moon Poya Day falls today (30).

The sacred threefold events of the Supreme Buddha are commemorated with great reverence by Buddhists around the world on this Vesak Poya day.

Buddhists celebrate Vesak with deep devotion, giving priority to both religious offerings and practice-based observances.

The birth of Prince Siddhartha, the attainment of Enlightenment by the Bodhisattva, and the passing away into Parinirvana are considered the key sacred events that took place on Vesak Day.

It is also significant that, in the eighth year after Enlightenment, the Buddha visited Kelaniya at the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika on a day like today’s Vesak Poya.

During that visit, the Buddha is said to have visited the summit of the Sri Pada mountain and left his sacred footprint, and the Sri Pada pilgrimage season concludes on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day in remembrance of this event.

The arrival of Prince Vijaya and the commencement of the construction of the Ruwanwelisaya by King Dutugemunu are also said to have occurred on a Vesak Full Moon Poya day.

It is also believed that Venerable Ananda, regarded as the Buddha’s chief attendant and custodian of the Dhamma, attained Parinirvana on a Vesak Poya day.

May this blessed Vesak festival bring peace and happiness to all beings across the world.