What to know before you go.
Researched by Sarisara, with sources.
Poson marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. Buddhist tradition holds that in 236 BC the monk Mahinda Thera preached to King Devanampiyatissa on the full moon day of the Poson month at Mihintale, a hilltop monastic site near Anuradhapura — and that Mahinda arrived there by travelling through the air and landing on a rock now called Aradhana Gala, which still has iron railings for pilgrims to hold. Poson is the second most important date on the Sri Lankan Buddhist calendar, after Vesak.
Mihintale and nearby Anuradhapura, one of the island’s first cities to adopt Buddhism, are the two main centres of the festival, drawing thousands of pilgrims who climb the site and spend hours in quiet worship. Across the rest of the island, the same pattern seen at Vesak repeats on a smaller scale over five to seven days: large lit pandals go up in town centres, dansal give out free food, homes are decorated with lanterns, and in some areas meat and alcohol sales are stopped. Pilgrims commonly dress in white to worship at Poson.
For most visitors, Poson is really two different experiences: a quiet, physically demanding pilgrimage up the Mihintale rock for those who want to follow the Mahinda story directly, or a lighter, festival-like evening of lanterns and pandals in any town across the island.
June Buddhist
Held on the Poson full moon (Poya) day, usually in early June, with wider island celebrations running 5-7 days around it; the exact date changes every year
The exact dates follow the moon and are confirmed each year closer to the time.
Any seat or stand fees are paid locally and are not included in Sarisara prices.
Seat prices, where seats are sold, are not confirmed.
Not confirmed by this research for the Mihintale site during Poson specifically.
Dress modestly for a religious pilgrimage site; many pilgrims wear white to worship on Poson.
Not dressed right? Not confirmed by this research.
Dates move every year with the lunar calendar.
No single organiser — a nationwide Buddhist religious observance, with Mihintale's monastic site central to the pilgrimage Official website
Mihintale, near Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka (island-wide celebrations elsewhere)
Trips, experiences and stays in and around Anuradhapura.
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Fire dancers light the road before the elephants of the Esala Perahera.
