Unduvap is the last full moon poya

Unduvap is the last full moon poya which commemorates the arrival of Theri Sangamitta in Sri Lanka with a Bo sapling from the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India during the month of Unduwap.

Sangamitta Theri was accompanied by several members of her royal family who had entered the Sasanaya. This contingent landed in Dambakolapatuna port in Jaffna during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. Sangamitta Theri was the daughter of Emperor Asoka and the sister of Arahant Mahinda who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka on Poson Poya day. Her arrival made her responsible for establishing Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.

The sacred Bo sapling was planted in the Mahameuna Garden in Anuradhapura. Bo saplings that emerged from this tree were taken to other parts of the country as an icon of Buddhism enhancing the establishment of Buddhist philosophy and culture. It is said that this visit by Sangamitta Theri was beneficial to Sri Lanka in many ways other than its main purpose of bringing the Bo sapling.

The retinue that accompanied her included people skilled in diverse crafts and disciplines such as wood work, agriculture, indigenous medicine, etc and their expertise was shared with the locals. Since then these skills have been handed down through generations and utilized for the development of this country.