Today is Vap Poya (Vap Pura Pasalosvaka Full Moon Poya Day). Also known as the Vas (rain) season – this is a period of retreat where the monks stay indoors in their monastaries.

The rainy season commenced three months ago with Esala – ‘Vassana Kalo’. It comes to an end with the Vap Poya. The ‘Katina’ season ushers in the Buddhist calendar with Vap, which is popularly known as ‘Cheevara Masaya’. Vap Poya marks the offering of the ‘Katina Cheevara’ or new robes to Buddhist monks, who observed ‘Vas’ – Rainy Retreat, beginning from Esala to Vap.


Vap Poya was significant even during the life and times of Lord Buddha. It was on such a day that the Buddha ended a ‘Vas’ retreat for the seventh time since attaining Enlightenment. He had spent this time in the celestial abode of Tavatissa, where He had preached the Abhidhama to the deities headed by Matrudeva. He ended the retreat by descending near the gates of Sankassapura where he preached the Dhamma to devotees flocked there.

Furthermore, Vap Poya paved the way for the arrival of Sangamitta Theri. The advent of Buddhism took place with the advent of ‘Dhammarajassa Savaka’ Arahat Mahinda Thera. King Devanampiyatissa’s sister-in-law Anula, was very keen to enter the Order of Bhikkunis. Therefore, the King made a request to Emperor Asoka to send Sanghamitta Theri.

Also on a Vap Poya day many years later, after Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka, King Devanampiyatissa dispatched a delegation to India to meet Emperor Asoka. This delegation was led by Prince Aritta and included Ven. Mahinda Thera. The Emperor had inquired of the Thera if Buddhism had been successfully established in Sri Lanka, to which the prelate was able to truthfully provide an affirmative answer.