Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day 2025

Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day in 2025 falls on Thursday, December 4, and it closes Sri Lanka’s lunar year with one of the island’s most meaningful Buddhist observances: gratitude for Sanghamittā Theri and the arrival of the sacred Bodhi tree sapling at Anurādhapura. On this public holiday, temples fill with devotees in white for precepts, meditation, and Dhamma, while pilgrims journey to Anurādhapura’s Sri Maha Bodhi to honor the tree planted in the 3rd century BCE, venerated as the world’s oldest human‑planted tree with a known date. Government calendars, bank‑holiday lists, and cultural references confirm the date and significance, and they explain the customs that shape the day across the country.

Date, status, and meaning

• Date and status: Unduvap Poya is observed nationwide on Thursday, December 4, 2025, as a public and bank holiday; government and banking calendars list it explicitly.
• Core commemoration: The day marks Sanghamittā Theri’s arrival bearing a sapling from the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment, later planted at Mahamevnāwa Park in Anurādhapura; it remains a living focus of veneration.

Why Unduvap matters

• The Bodhi link: The Sri Maha Bodhi sapling, planted by King Devanampiya Tissa, is central to Sri Lankan Buddhist identity and pilgrimage, with thousands visiting on Unduvap for homage and precepts.
• Sanghamittā’s role: Traditions emphasize Sanghamittā’s founding contributions, including establishing the Bhikkhunī (nuns’) order and carrying the living link to the Buddha’s awakening.

How the day is observed

• At temples: Devotees observe Sil (precepts), offer flowers and lamps, chant, listen to Dhamma talks, and engage in meditation and dana (alms‑giving); businesses often shorten hours, and the sale of alcohol and meat is restricted across the country.
• At Anurādhapura: The sacred Bo tree precinct becomes the spiritual center for the day, with processions and sustained worship under the Bodhi’s canopy; cultural summaries note the site’s UNESCO‑recognized heritage and its draw for pilgrims.

Planning a respectful visit in 2025

• Expect closures: As a public and bank holiday, Unduvap affects banking and some retail operations; plan transactions and intercity travel the day before or after.
• Dress and etiquette: Wear modest white or light clothing; cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes and hats before shrine areas; ask before taking photos inside shrines.
• Join merit‑making: Contribute to temple dana or help with volunteer tasks; many communities organize offerings and service activities on Unduvap.

Unduvap within the Poya cycle

• Monthly Poya rhythm: Every full moon is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, each marking a key episode in Buddhist history; 2025 listings include Ill/Il Poya on November 5 and Unduvap on December 4 to close the year’s cycle.
• Names and narratives: Calendars and guides identify Unduvap as “Sanghamitta Day,” highlighting women’s roles in Theravāda history and honoring the Bhikkhunī lineage.

Unduvap 2025: confirmed calendars

• Government tourism calendar: Lists Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day on Thursday, December 4, 2025, noting its Bo tree commemoration.
• Central Bank list: Bank holidays include Unduvap on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
• Holiday compendia: National and international holiday databases align on the date and public‑holiday type for 2025.

Visiting Anurādhapura for Unduvap

• What to expect: Large, orderly pilgrim flows in and around the Sri Maha Bodhi precinct; flower stalls, oil‑lamp stations, and spaces for quiet reflection; increased police and volunteer presence for crowd flow.
• UNESCO context: The ancient city’s palaces, monasteries, and monuments frame the day, with the Bodhi tree precinct at the emotional center; the site has been UNESCO‑listed since 1982.
• Practicalities: Book lodging early for December 3–5; arrive before mid‑morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures; carry water, sun protection, and a small cloth for sitting during sermons.

Customs and restrictions

• Island‑wide norms: Sales of alcohol and meat are forbidden on Poya days; many restaurants switch to vegetarian menus or close part of the day; hotels maintain service with policy compliance.
• Quiet tones: Keep voices low near sermon halls and precept groups; avoid blocking pathways or worship lines; follow stewards’ guidance during offerings and lamp lighting.

Suggested Unduvap itinerary

• Dawn: Temple visit in white attire to undertake precepts and offer flowers and oil lamps.
• Midday: Dhamma talk and meditation; light vegetarian lunch; rest during the heat.
• Late afternoon: Pilgrimage to Sri Maha Bodhi precinct in Anurādhapura or a local Bodhi shrine; sit for evening chanting beneath prayer flags.

Learning more about Sanghamittā and the Bodhi

• Women in the Saṅgha: Unduvap discussions and community programs honor the legacy of Sanghamittā Theri, with talks on the Bhikkhunī Order and the practice of generosity toward nuns and monks.
• The living tree: Accounts emphasize the Bodhi’s lineage to Bodhgayā; saplings from Anurādhapura were later planted across the island, spreading devotional practice and sacred ecology.

Travel and logistics for December

• Transport: Holiday schedules can reduce services or change frequencies; check bus and rail times in advance; rideshares operate but expect waits near major shrines at peak hours.
• Weather: December is warm with variable showers; light, breathable clothing and a compact umbrella are practical for long temple days.
• Combining festivals: Pair Unduvap with heritage touring in the Cultural Triangle, or continue south for coastal retreats after the holiday.

Verified essentials at a glance

• Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025.
• Type: National public holiday; bank holiday.
• Meaning: Arrival of the Bodhi tree sapling with Sanghamittā Theri; veneration of Sri Maha Bodhi at Anurādhapura.
• Customs: Temple precepts and meditation; offerings; restrictions on alcohol and meat sales; large pilgrimages to Anurādhapura.

Mark the calendar for December 4, dress in white, and share in a luminous day of gratitude beneath a living link to Enlightenment. Unduvap Full Moon Poya 2025 is a rare chance to witness Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heart—plan early, participate respectfully, and let the stillness of the Bodhi shade welcome the year’s final full moon.