Navam Full Moon Poya Day
Today is Navam Full Moon Poya Day. According to Buddhist traditions and literature, two utmost significant incidents took place on Navam Full Moon Poya Day.
They are the appointment of Buddha’s two chief disciples – Sariputta and Moggallana. Sariputta was appointed to the prestigious position of “Dharmasenadhipathi” and Moggallana as “Dharmapuroitha” respectively.
It was also on a Navam full moon poya day that Venerable Sariputta who sat fanning the Buddha while the expounded the Vedana Pariggaha Sutta to the wandering ascetic named Dighanakha at the cave Sukarakathalena situated in the Mount of Gijjakuta and on having concentrated on the sane discourse attained arahantship a fortnight after his ordainment.
The holding of the first-ever Buddhist Council – meeting also took place on a Navam full moon poya day.
Navam Full Moon Poya Day, see over 100 decorated elephants marching along side men cracking whips, juggling, eating fire, beating drums and dancing through the streets! Navam Perahera is by far the most amazing of Sri Lanka festivals!
1979 was the inaugural year of the resplendent Navam Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka. The capital city of Colombo, with numerous Sri Lanka villas, is home to this massive and colourful celebration of Sri Lanka, its culture, its people and Buddhism. The grand Navam Perahera Festival is also called the Navam Full Moon Poya Day. The event spans two days in February with the final day coinciding with the February full moon.
The organiser of the Navam Perahera Festival is the Gangaramaya Temple on the lovely shores of the Beira Lake. The beautiful gala festival is attended by over one million people from across Sri Lanka and from around the world. If you would like to include a magical and cultural extravaganza to your Sri Lanka holiday itinerary during your stay in Sri Lanka.
The Navam Perahera of the Colombo Gangarama Temple, the only pageant in the city of Colombo, will take to the streets on February 15 and 16 at 7.00 pm, for the 43rd time in succession, the Organizing Committee announced.
A large number of elephants will also parade in the Navam Perahera which is very popular among both local and foreign visitors.
The main purpose of the Gangarama Temple Navam Perahera in Colombo, which is one of the first pageants to be held in a calendar year in Sri Lanka, is to bless the people of the world.