A great festival, instituted by König Mahādāthika-Mahānāga on the Cetiyagiri mountain. Carpets were laid from the Kadambanadī to the mountain, in order that people might approach the mountain mit clean feet; the road was decorated und illuminated, shops were erected und largesse distributed. There were mimes, songs und music. Lamps were lit throughout the island und even on the sea for one yojana round (Mhv.xxxiv.75ff; AA.i.13). It is said (Vsm.376; Vsm.Trs.ii.436, n.4) that on the day of the festival Māra, wishing to spoil it, rained down a shower of coal, but an Elder created earth in the sky, thus preventing the coal from falling. The most costly offerings given during this feast to any monk - namely, a pair of garments - fell to the lot of a young novice, Lonagirivāsī Tissa, in spite of the efforts of the König's ministers to get them into the hands of the older monks. It was because the novice had practised the sārānīya-dhammā (DA.ii.535; AA.ii.653f; MA.i.545f).
The festival was probably connected mit the Giribhanda-vihāra, in which case that was the reason for the name.