By Bhante Sumitta |
Full Moon is an amazing natural phenomenon just like any other natural scenarios such as raining, sun rising, sun setting etc. Full Moon Day is highlighted with quite a few synchronized actions in the nature such as swelling of the ocean, increasing the tidal waves, illumination of the whole sky with yellowish color and the like. The soothing and calming effect in the night time due to moon as compared to the more vibrant effect in the day time due to sun is quite extraordinary. The world is busy and active in the day time while most of the sentient beings do take a good night rest in the night time sans a few nocturnal animals and birds. Many of the nocturnal animals and birds go for their hunting during the night time while they do take a good rest hiding from the sun during the day time. Humans on the other hand, tend to take a rest in the night after working hours during the day time. Somehow while average humans take rest in the night there are few other humans hitting night streets for different activities mostly with some negative ulterior motives. Thus in a way, night time is not a safe time to travel outside and many who are riding or traveling outside in the night have more seductive, violent or nasty intentions and mindsets. Criminals, gangsters and prostitutes normally occupy the night time streets. Hence it is considered inappropriate to travel in the night except due to unavoidable circumstances. People and animals can be quite wild and violent during the night and the role of the moon or darkness could be decisive in this regard.
Hence, Full Moon Day is considered a great day to practice morality by many religions in the world. Buddhism gives foremost priority to the Full Moon Day. It is said Prince Siddhattha was born on a Full Moon Day; ascetic Gotama attained enlightenment on a Full Moon Day and the Buddha passed away on a Full Moon Day. All these three major occasions happened under a tree. In the Buddhist calendar, Full Moon Day is reserved to practice Dāna (Generosity), Sīla (Morality) and Bhāvanā (Meditation). Sri Lanka for example declares all the Full Moon Days as Public, Bank & Mercantile holiday thus giving the countrymen to practice and find peace on that particular day.
Full Moon Day List & Uposatha Calendar in 2024 / 2567-8 |
Full Moon Days – 2024
- January 25 – Durutu (Phussa) |
- February 24 – Navam (Māgha) |
- March 24 – Medin (Phagguṇa) |
- April 23 – Bak (Citta) |
- May 23 – Vesak (Vesākha) |
- June 21 – Poson (Jeṭṭha) |
- July 21 – Esala (Āsāḷha) |
- August 19 – Nikini (Sāvaṇa) |
- September 17 – Binara (Poṭṭhapāda) |
- October 17 – Vap (Assayuja) |
- November 15 – IL (Kattika) |
- December 15 – Unduvap (Māgasira) |
All the Moon Days
January – Durutu (Phussa) |
- January 4 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- January 11 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- January 18 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- January 25 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
February – Navaṃ (Māgha) |
- February 3 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- February 9 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- February 17 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- February 24 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
March – Medin (Phagguna) |
- March 3 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- March 10 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- March 17 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- March 24 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
April – Bak (Citta) |
- April 2 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- April 8 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- April 16 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- April 23 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
May – Vesak (Vesākha) |
- May 1 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- May 7 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- May 15 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- May 23 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
June – Poson (Jeṭṭha) |
- May 30 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- June 6 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- June 14 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- June 23 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
July – Esala (Āsāḷha) |
- June 29 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- July 5 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- July 14 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- July 21 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
August – Nikini (Sāvana) |
- July 28 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- August 4 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- August 12 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- August 19 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
September – Binara (Poṭṭhapāda) |
- August 26 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- September 2 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- September 10 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- September 17 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
October – Vap (Assayuja) |
- September 25 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- October 2 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- October 10 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- October 17 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
November – Il (Kattikā) |
- October 24 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- November 1 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- November 9 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- November 15 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
December – Unduvap (Māgasira) |
- November 23 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- November 30 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
- December 8 – Sukkha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waxing Half Moon)
- December 15 – Puṇṇamī (Full Moon)
- December 23 – Kaṇha Pakkha Aṭṭhamī (Waning Half Moon)
- December 30 – Amāvasī (Moonless)
Importance of Uposatha Days
January 25 – Durutu (Phussa) |
Offering of Veḷuvana or Veṇuvana Vihāra (Bamboo Grove Monastery) to the Buddha by King Bimbisāra. The king attained Stream-entry (Sotāpanna).
Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka 9 months after the Enlightenment.
February 24 – Navam (Māgha) |
Appointment of Arahanta Sāriputta & Arahanta Moggallāna as Chief Disciples.
Announcement of the Parinibbāna (Passing Away) by the Buddha.
Holding of the First Buddhist Council 3 months after the Passing Away of the Buddha.
March 24 – Medin (Phagguṇa) |
Buddha’s first visit to his hometown – Kapilavatthu.
Twin Miracles (Yamaka mahā pāṭihāriya) by the Buddha
King Suddhodana’s attainment of Stream-entry (Sotāpanna)
April 23 – Bak (Citta) |
Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka (Nāgadīpa) during the fifth year of his enlightenment in order to resolve a conflict between two trible groups.
Emperor Asoka’s birthday (304 B.C.E.)
May 23 – Vesak (Vesākha) |
Birth of Bodhisatta prince Siddhattha (623 B.C.E.)
Enlightenment of Bodhisatta ascetic Siddhattha Gotama
Passing Away of the Buddha
June 21 – Poson (Jeṭṭha) |
Arrival of Arahanta Mahinda to Sri Lanka in 236 B.E. (308 B.C.E.)
July 21 – Esala (Āsāḷha) |
Great Renunciation of the Prince Siddhattha at the age of 29
Teaching of the First Sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the Five Disciples
Buddha’s visit to Tusita Heaven
First local ordination in Sri Lanka
Laying the foundation for Mahāthūpa (Ruwanweliseya) in Sri Lanka
Annual rains retreats of the Buddhist monks
August 19 – Nikini (Sāvaṇa) |
First Buddhist Council after three months of the passing away of the Buddha.
Venerable Ānanda, the personal attendant of the Buddha attained arahantahood.
September 17 – Binara (Poṭṭhapāda) |
Establishing the Female Ordination (Bhikkhunī Pabbajjā)
October 17 – Vap (Assayuja) |
Little Prince Siddhattha sat on meditation during the ploughing festival
Buddha’s return from Tāvatiṃsa realm to Saṅkassa city after teaching Abhidhamma to his mother Mahāmāyā.
Annual Kathina Robe offering Ceremony
November 15 – IL (Kattika) |
Beginning of the first Dhammadūta mission of the sixty arahanta disciples
Ordination of the three Jaṭila brothers (Uruvela Kassapa, Nadī Kassapa, Gayā Kassapa) along with 1000 followers
Passing away of the Arahanta Sāriputta, the first disciple of the Buddha
Predicting of the Buddha regarding the Metteyya Buddha
End of the Rains Retreat (Vassāna Kāla/ Samaya)
December 15 – Unduvap (Māgasira
Arahantī Therī Saṅghamittā’s arrival in Sri Lanka along with a Bodhi sapling to establish the Bhikkhunī Order in Sri Lanka.
Taming of the ferocious elephant – Nālāgiri by the Buddha
Most of the traditional Buddhist countries celebrate these special holidays with some spiritual activities such as Dāna (Generosity), Sīla (Morality) & Bhāvanā (Meditation).
Thank you for posting this, hamduruwane! It is very helpful for our Dhamma USA community to be more familiar with the Buddhist calendar and the Full Moon Days, and also this can reach many more people, who may gain an interest too. Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu!