Current Affairs - Festivity - Discussion

Poson Poya is a significant Buddhist festival celebrated in Sri Lanka to honour the introduction of Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century BCE. It commemorates the moment when Arahat Mahinda, son of Indian Emperor Ashoka, delivered the first Buddhist sermon to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale. This event is regarded as the formal beginning of Theravāda Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Celebrations involve religious observances, illuminated streets, and pilgrimages to Mihintale and Anuradhapura. In 2025, the Sri Lankan government arranged special train services to facilitate pilgrim travel, and the Indian High Commission contributed with an exhibition on shared Buddhist heritage.