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How does dansal alms giving work and is it ok for foreigners to eat the free food

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Andre F.•7415 rep•2

I read on Poya days locals set up dansal free food stalls along the road Is this for everyone Can a foreigner eat there Is there an etiquette and is the food actually safe and vegetarian

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foodculturesafety

5 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

Dansal is a beautiful Buddhist tradition where lay devotees prepare and offer food and drinks to ANYONE passing by on Poya days, especially Vesak (May) and Poson (June), as an act of merit-making. Foreigners are completely welcome, in fact warmly welcome. The food is almost always vegetarian (no meat is prepared on Poya days), freshly cooked in large quantities, and far safer than roadside food on a regular day. Etiquette: approach with both hands together in a small bow ("ayubowan"), accept what is offered without picking, eat or drink it on the spot, do not waste, do not pay (offering money would be insulting; this is merit, not commerce), and offer a smile and a soft "sthuthi" when leaving. Common dansal: ice-cold faluda, kiribath, plain tea, ice cream, plain rice and vegetable curry. A truly lovely cultural moment.

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Ven. Ananda•7140 rep•1

If you genuinely want to give back, donate to the temple offering box or to a known dansal organising group, not to the food stall volunteers themselves. Better still, volunteer to serve at one for an hour.

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Ven. Ananda•7140 rep•1

Eat the kiribath. It is steamed milk-rice cut into diamonds with sweet jaggery and seeni sambol. Comfort food of the gods.

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Zoe N.•6740 rep•2

Vesak Poya night in Colombo around Beira Lake is when dansal density goes wild. You can literally eat your way along the lake while watching the lanterns. Magical evening.

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Hilde K.•6830 rep•2

Walking Beira Lake on Vesak night sounds incredible. Obrigado for explaining the etiquette so clearly.

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Andre F.•7415 rep•2

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