Amisa Pooja (Material Offerings)
Offerings of material items such as flowers, incense, water, victuals (Gilanpasa) etc. by way of paying homage to Buddha is known as Amisa Pooja. Apart from such offerings, activities such as conducting Dan Sal (offering free foods and drinks to devotees), making Vesak lanterns and taking part in pilgrimages too are considered as Amisa Poojas. Particularly on Vesak days, Buddhist devotees engage themselves in the practice of decorating their homes with Buddhist flags, lanterns etc., and making offerings of flowers, incense to Buddha by way of invoking merit for themselves. The main virtue which is developed through such Amisa Poojas is Saddha or piety. It is the basic requirement for Buddhists in the realization of the ultimate goal of Nibbana which is the sum total of the Dhamma. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and devotion that Buddhist people engage themselves in Amisa Poojas in order to cultivate such virtues as Saddha.

Pratipatti Pooja (Spiritual Offerings)
Making offerings to Buddha by engaging in excellent good deeds such as Sila (good conduct), Bhavana (meditation) etc, is known as Pratipatti or spiritual offering. Buddha has highly valued this type of activities in the total elimination of powerful evil deeds such as Lobha (desire), Dvesha (malice) and Moha (ignorance) which contribute to the prolongation of the Samsaric journey. Those good practices help the total elimination of such evil deeds; purify one’s mind and restrain one’s body and words. Ultimately, a noble being is created in this manner. Therefore this practice is the nobler one of the two and Buddha has even preached that it is the best respect that one can bestow upon him.

Therefore Buddhists make it a point to engage in observing Sil on the full moon day of every month in order to make that noble offering and particularly on the Vesak day they engage themselves in such meritorious acts in large numbers.