Bak Full Moon Poya commemorates the Buddha's second visit to Sri Lanka in the 5th year after Enlightenment, when he settled a war between Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara at Nagadipa. The event, recorded in the Mahavamsa, symbolizes peace and the Buddha's role as peacemaker.

When is Bak Full Moon Poya Day?

Bak Full Moon Poya Day is celebrated on the full moon in April.

The following is the list of Bak Full Moon Poya Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Bak Full Moon Poya Day?

Bak Full Moon Poya Day is one of the most historically significant, tied to the Buddha's direct visits to the island.

According to the Mahavamsa (the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka), the Buddha made his second visit to the island on a Bak Full Moon Poya, in the fifth year after Enlightenment. The visit was to Nagadipa (present-day Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka).

Two Naga kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, were preparing for war over a gem-studded throne, gifted to Chulodara by his father and claimed by Mahodara. Their armies gathered for battle, threatening destruction and bloodshed.

The Buddha appeared at Nagadipa, radiating compassion and wisdom. Through his sermon (Dhamma Desana), he taught the futility of hatred and the value of peace and harmony. The kings and their followers were moved, renounced their anger, and reconciled.

The event highlights the Buddha's role as a peacemaker and teacher of non-violence. It established Sri Lanka as a land touched directly by the Buddha, reinforcing the island's sacred Buddhist heritage.

The story reflects central Buddhist values: hatred is not overcome by hatred, but by love and compassion.