This poya day is celebrated on the first full moon in January. This is a key religious and historic date in the calendar for Sri Lankans as it marks Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka in the ninth month after attaining Enlightenment.
The Buddha first visited Mahiyanganaya in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka about 2,500 years ago. According to the ancient texts of Sri Lanka, the Mahavansa and Dipavansa, the Buddha visited to bring an end to fighting between the two main tribes on the island.
During his visit, the Buddha delivered sermons to the tribes. After listening to the sermons, the tribes gave up fighting with each other and started to respect each other with dignity.
Impressed by the sermons, the local God Sumana Saman invited the Buddha to leave his sacred footprint on the peak of the Samanala Mountain. Duruthu poya marks the beginning of the three-month pilgrimage season to Samanala Mountain in order to worship the footprint of the Buddha. The poya is also celebrated with a spectacular procession (perahera) at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara.
©satipatthana.net
