An Ethnographic Study of the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi; In Association with Daramiti Pohoya

Abstract

Since the southern branch of Sri Maha Bodhi was donated to Srilanka in the 3rd century BC, the devotees of this country worshipped it. To protect this bodhi tree planted in Anuradhapura from animal threats, the residents of that time made bonfires around the bodhi tree and chased away animals. Devotees who come every year to offer Bodhi make it a habit to bring a stick to light the bonfire. This happened especially on the occasion of the Nikini full moon Poyaday, so it is called 'DaramitiPohoya'. 'Daramiti Perahera' is a synonym for it. Even today, it is said that some people who come on the Esala month pilgrimage symbolically bring a small bundle of firewood and place it in a corner of the Bo tree. Accordingly, the background of this research is to collect the legendary facts determine the truth and falsity of it and conclude the importance of DaramitiPohoya.The objectives of this research were to judge the utility of the DaramitiPohoya dedicated to the Bo tree to cite the inherent characteristics and specialities of evolving since its origin and to preserve the intangible factors (folklore) due to social evolution and technological changes over time. The research problem is What DaramitiPohoya is and reveals it through the intangible factors. The limitation of the research is the study of the information that is documented and its utility and socio-cultural profile in the period from the beginning of the DaramitiPohoya dedicated to Sri Maha Bodhi. This research is based on the study of the literature sources related to the qualitative data analysis method. Going to the relevant field, collecting data through questionnaire methods, interviews and library methods, organising the data by analyzing the same facts through scholarly discussions, ideologies and literature sources, and presenting the results through summary and electronic methods. It is revealed in the data analysis that Daramiti Poya contributed to the protection of Bodhi in the past and the research findings are that the value of Daramiti Poya has been lost due to the technological development of modern society.