9 years and below
Poson Festival
As I love to read books by Mary Pope Osborne from the Magic Tree House series, I decided to write about the Poson Festival and to imagine that the main characters Annie and Jack came to Sri Lanka on Poson Day.
Jack and Annie came out of the Magic Tree House and saw many people wearing white clothes. They carried flowers in their hands. Jack and Annie met two girls, Nethmi and Yenuli. “What country is this?” asked Annie. “This is Sri Lanka,” said Yenuli. “What city is this? And why are there so many people here?” asked Jack. Nethmi said, “This is Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka. And today is Poson Poya Day, the full moon when Arahath Mahinda Thero introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. We are going to worship at Mihintale. Mihintale is the mountain where Arahath Mahinad arrived and met the Sinhala King Devanampiyatissa and preached the Dhamma to him.”
Suddenly they saw some people with trays. There were many cups with warm drinks in them. Each child took a cup. “What is this drink?” asked Annie. “This is sau,” said Nethmi. “Usually on Poson Day there are many dansalas. Having a dansala is a Buddhist practice of sharing food and drink with other. There can be rice, ice-cream, herbal drink dansalas and many others.”
“I love this tradition,” said Annie…
Nethmi Batuwita (9 years)
St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7
10 – 12 years
Interesting time with my father
I have many interesting times with my father. Every Saturday and Sunday I go to the shopping center with my father and my little sister Anuki. When we go shopping, my father buys toys, sweets, books, dresses, bags, food items and more for both of us. Then he buys the stuff we need for home. Sometimes he will buy a doll or teddy bear and will take it home and the next morning when we wake up the doll or teddy bear will be there in front of us. Actually that time is my favourite.
On my birthday, he surprised me with a large white teddy bear. After that he carried me and turned me round twice and put me down. This year he gave me this surprise. That was another interesting time with my father.
When we go to my dad’s elder sister’s home during the holidays, he will play with me. He loves to play tennis, badminton and chess. Sometimes I win in badminton and chess but never in tennis. He cracks jokes at me and my sister because he loves to see our faces when we both get angry and try to catch him. At home he will carry my sister and he will tickle her and sometimes me too. That is the best time with my father.
I love to stay with my father. He is funny. I love my father and he loves me too.
Shehara Abeykoon (Grade 5)
Matale
13 – 15 years
The significance of Poson
Poson is the third month in the Buddhist Calendar after Bak and Vesak. This year, Poson full moon poya day fell on June 16. Sri Lankans celebrate Poson Poya Day by visiting temples, listening to Dhamma sermons, organizing dansalas and hanging lanterns. They also try to visit Mihintale in Anuradhapura.
But why?
In 3 B. C., during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka on Poson Poya Day by Arahat Mahinda. This occasion is celebrated and remembered every Poson Poya Day. King Asoka of India was good friends with Sri Lanka’s king at the time, King Devanampiyatissa. After King Asoka embraced Buddhism, he sent his son, Arahat Mahinda to Sri Lanka to introduce the religion here. When Arahat Mahina landed on Mihintale, King Devanampiyatissa was hunting deer. Before preaching to the kind, Arahat Mahinda questioned him. Then he preached and the king embraced Buddhism. Soon almost everyone in the country embraced the religion. They stopped worshipping thing like trees and the dead and started worshipping Lord Buddha. The country became peaceful and self-sufficient.
This event is remembered and celebrated on Poson Poya Day in Sri Lanka because it was on this day that the religion was introduced to the country. This story is retold at Poson and schools and other organizations hold Poson Bathi Gee to remember this occasion.
Ifadha Deen (13 years)
Leeds Int. School, Galle
