Vap Full Moon Poya Day falls today.

Vap poya day falls today. Vap Full Moon Poya Day marks the end of the 3 month retreat by Buddhist monks known as the Vas season. The laity offer Katina robes on Vap Poya to the Buddhist monks as an act of merit and to gain good Karma.

The month is also called the Cheevara Masaya – ‘Month of Robes’ or the Katina Masaya – ‘Month of Steadfastness’. Also known as the Vas season – this is a period of retreat where the monks stay indoors in their monastaries.

Buddhists all over the country visit Temples to observe sil and make offerings of flowers and incense. The ‘Vas’ retreat which begins on Esala Poya comes to an end on Vap Poya, and thereafter commences the ‘Katina’ period.

This period lasts for the duration of a month until the next Poya in November. Many religious observances are organized in Buddhist temples and viharaya’s islandwide to mark this day.

According to Buddhist history, many events related to the life of the Buddha occurred on this Poya day. It was on a Vap Full Moon Poya Day that the Buddha ended his seventh Vassana retreat for the rainy season since his enlightenment which he had spent in the celestial abode of Tavtisa. There, he had engaged in preaching Abhidhamma to the devas and deities headed by Matrudeva.