Today is the Navam Full Moon Poya Day

2026-02-01 - 03:39

Today (01) marks the Navam Full Moon Poya Day. According to Buddhist history, it was on a Poya day such as today that the first Sangha Council was held by the Buddha, during which Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Moggallana were conferred the positions of Chief Disciples. It was also on a Navam Poya day like today that the Buddha delivered the Ovāda Pātimokkha sermon. Furthermore, it was on a Navam Full Moon Poya day, such as today, that the Buddha relinquished the life force (āyusankhāra), three months prior to His Parinibbāna. In observance of Navam Poya, a number of religious programmes have been organised today at temples across the island.