Sri Lanka was converted to Budhism in the 3rd century BC. The Poson Festival commemorates this special event in the history. It was in this ancient city of Mihintale in the year 247BC that Arahant Mahinda, supposedly the son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura to Buddhism. According to legendry the king was hunting deer, when Arahant Mahinda appeared to him in a grove and asked him a riddle about a mango tree. After the king had successfully answered the riddle, he agreed to follow the teachings of the Buddha and declared it state religion. With the legendry, Mihintale has become the main site of activities during the Poson Festival.
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