Full Moon and an Almsgiving Tradition

Poya days, or “full moon” days, are holidays in Sri Lanka.  Today—Monday in Sri Lanka—there’s no work because it’s Poya day.  Needless to say, I like this monthly tradition!

On Poya days, devout Buddhists go to the temple—to meditate, listen to a monk’s teachings, or make an offering.  We joined our neighbors in May as they carried out their almsgiving tradition on Vesak Poya day, which commemorates the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha.  They had cooked lunch for 200 people the day before and had arranged with the senior monk of a small rural temple, where attendees are mainly poor, to distribute their meal on the full moon day. 

Everybody helped—Ama—the matriarch of the family (on the right)—her sister, her three grown children, their spouses and children, and relatives of Ama’s sons-in-law.  There were 20 of us in all.  After the monk's teaching, the attendees got their dishes, and we began serving the meal.

This typical Sri Lankan lunch consisted of rice and several vegetarian dishes, including jack fruit (which tastes very much like chicken), yellow dahl, chutney, and a salad made of dark bitter greens and onions.  For desert we served yoghurt and bananas from our neighbors’ trees.

When we got home, we had lunch together at Ama’s house.  Sharing with Ama’s family in their almsgiving tradition is a day to be remembered.