Giribhanda Pooja


Giribhanda Pooja is a unique indigenous ceremony among material meritorious ceremonies which not found in any other country in the Word. This ceremony has been founded by Sri Lankan King ‘Mahadathita Mahanaga’ who lived in First Century A.D. Giribhanda Pooja, as its name signifies is because of essential material needs offered to a size of a mountain.

According to the ancient sources, the special features of the Pooja are as follows;

  1. Lighting of lamps in the coastal sea around Sri Lanka
  2. Freeing prisoners
  3. Cleaning and decorating of Mihintale Monastic Complex.
  4. Free haircut and shaves.
  5. Offered Dhana for Bhikkus
  6. Offered Dansal (free meals) at four main gates in the capital city.
  7. Tulabhara Dana; Offering monastic requisites which are equal to weight of the donor
  8. Stacked a mountain of Pirikara (gift) and offered to Maha Sanga.

 

Selected Photos of Giribhanda Pooja Pinkama 

 

Thalagala Sri Siddhartha Foundation revived the Giribhanda Pooja in the year 2003 keeping the ancient traditions of offering a heap of Pirikara to temples in rural areas in Sri Lanka and all of the above special features are conducted symbolically.

Giribhanda Pooja is one of the major programs initiated to uplift the standards of needy temples. This Pooja is conducted biennialy by the Foundation and it was able to cater to very many monastic requites of temples in various rural districts of the country where monks protect the teaching of Buddha and regulate spiritual disciplines even under threat to life. Todate this program has benefited over 820 temples in 6 districts namely; Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Badulla and Monargala. The details of the 6 Giribhanda Pooja programs conducted by the Foundations are as follows:

Year

Location

No. of Temples Benefited

Value of each Offering of Items
USD

Total Value of Offering of Items
USD

2003

Anuradhapura District – Selected Temples in Rural Areas.

25

150

 3,750

2006

Trincomalee District – All the Temples

80

200

 16,000

2008

Polonnaruwa District – Selected Temples in Rural Areas

110

300

 33,000

2010

Ampara District – All the Temples

180

300

 54,000

2012

Badulla District – Selected Temples in Rural Areas.

200

400

 80,000

2014

Monaragala District – Selected Temples in Rural Areas.

225

 450

 101,250