dagoba

A dagoba is a Buddhist stupa, a sacred mound or dome structure used for veneration and as a reliquary. The term is rooted in Sri Lankan English and derives from the Sinhala dagaba or dagoba, used to denote a stupa. In general usage, a dagoba enshrines relics or commemorates significant events in the life of the Buddha and serves as a focus for circumambulatory devotion.

Architecturally, dagobas are typically hemispherical or drum-shaped and built to enshrine relics or symbolic objects. They are usually surrounded by a path for ritual walking, and are capped with a harmika and a pinnacle or parasol (chatra). The base may be square, octagonal, or circular, and the exterior often features brick or stone with plaster surfaces. Surrounding monasteries, monasteries, and other shrine elements may form part of the dagoba complex.

Historically, dagobas are a prominent feature of Sri Lankan Buddhist architecture, where they accompanied royal patronage and served as major pilgrimage sites. Notable examples include the Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, and Jetavanaramaya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. While many dagobas date from early centuries BCE–CE, across the region they reflect a long tradition of monumental Buddhist commemorative construction.

Culturally, dagobas remain places of worship and ritual; Buddhists visit, offer flowers and incense, and participate in ceremonies around these monuments. In scholarly and regional usage, dagoba is often synonymous with stupa, though terminology can vary by language and tradition.

See also: Stupa, Buddhist architecture. Note: Dagoba is distinct from Dagobah, the fictional swamp planet in the Star Wars universe.