As a cultural country filled with customs and tradition, Sri Lanka offers locals and visitors vibrant events in which to indulge. Be they religious or customary, each event holds a set of traditions that must be carried out.
The following events take place in Sri Lanka throughout the year.
January is a month of celebration and cheer, as we travel into a New Year. The Duruthu Perehera and Thai Pongal celebrations are held in this month.
The Duruthu Perehera (i.e. procession) takes place on the first Full Moon Poya Day of the year. It commemorates the visit by Lord Buddha to the island in the year following his enlightenment. The procession starts from the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara and is held over three nights.
Thai Pongal is a Hindu Celebration of the Harvest and honours the Hindu Sun God. The day, which falls either on the 14ht or 15th of January is cultural and also includes many ceremonial preparations such as sweet meats and spiced rice called “Pongal.” Following worship at a Hindu temple, the Hindu folk make their way back to their homes to carry out the traditions rituals.
Independence Day (National Day) is celebrated in Sri Lanka, on February 4th. Sri Lanka gained Independence from the British in 1948. The day is a national holiday in Sri Lanka.
It is celebrated all over the country with flag-hoisting ceremonies, dances, parades and cultural performances. The main celebrations take place in Colombo. Here, the President raises the national flag and delivers a speech and the event is televised “live” throughout the island.
Many struggles were made in the history of Sri Lanka for the cause of freedom. All those who fought for Independence remembered and celebrated especially recalling the independence movement against the British.
In his speech, the President highlights the achievements of the government during the past year, raises important issues and requests the people to join together to commemorate this historic day. The President also pays tribute to the nations heroes, observing two minutes of silence in their memory.
The large military parade showcases the power of the army, navy, air force, police and the civil defence force, and Sri Lankans recollect the commitment, bravery, national unity and determination to achieve peace.
The Navam Perehera is held on the Full Moon Poya Day in February, celebrating the Ordination of Lord Buddha’s initial disciples, Sariputta and Maha Moggalana. The celebrations are held at one of Colombo’s most prestigious temples, the Gangaramaya Temple that is located close to Beira Lake. The procession is breathtakingly beautiful. It consists of over a one hundred decorated elephants and dancers performing Udarata (up-country) and Pahatharaya (low-country) dances. These celebrations last two days and are the cultural highlights of February.
Another religious and cultural event is Maha Shivarathri Day, which occurs either in late February or early March. It commemorates the union of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvathi. Ceremonial prayers and rituals are carried out. Maha Shivarathri Day which is considered an auspicious for women, involve married women praying for the well-being of their husbands and sons, whereas spinster pray for husbands who holds the qualities of Shiva, who is also considered the perfect husband.
Though Westerners celebrate the New Year on the 1st of January each year, the Sinhalese and Tamil folk believe it to be connected to astrology, thereby when the Sun travels from Pisces to Aries; it signifies the onset of the New Year. The Sinhalese and Tamil New Year involve many traditions and customs, which are carried out in a series of events. Clad in new clothes, the lighting of the lamp and milk pot are carried at an auspicious time and later the people partake delicious sweet meats. Another tradition is the exchange of sweet meats between neighbours, offering unity and warmth.
On May 1st, the people take to the streets to mark International Labour Day. It is considered one of the country’s most political events.
Apart from political events, Vesak is celebrated on the Full Moon Poya Day in the month of May. Buddhists consider this a holy day and commemorates the day on which Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and passed on. People all over the island decorate their houses, trees and streets with lights, bright lanterns and magnificently lit cut-outs, which recount Lord Buddha’s journeys and stories. The country is ablaze with the various festival lanterns whilst temples become a hive of activity with followers flocking to pray on this religious day.
Further into June, the country celebrates Poson on the Full Moon Poya Day, as the day on which Venerable Mahinda introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. To commemorate this day, celebrations similar to that of Vesak are carried out throughout the country.
On the Esala Full Moon Day in July, Buddhists commemorates Lord Buddha’s renouncement of worldly indulgences to attain enlightenment. Various forms of peraheras take place in Kandy, Kataragama, Devinuwara, Kotte and Belanwila.
The Esala Perahera is a Buddhist festival held every year in Sri Lanka. The celebration lasts 10 nights, and is a way to pay homage to Lord Buddha’s tooth relic enshrined at the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) in Kandy. In the 4th century, Kandy’s king announced an annual parade to honor the relic, and since then, the celebration is held every year in the form of Esala Perahera.
The processions feature massive casts of participants that include hundreds of brilliantly decorated elephants, a large number of acrobats, dancers, fire eaters, jugglers and drummers performing. You will see many artists walking on stilts, swinging fire pots, cracking whips, and carrying banners. During the processions, the tooth relic is carried on the back of a Tusker (elephant) that resides at a Temple.
After the last procession, a water cutting ceremony is held in which a priest cuts the waters of the Mahaweli Ganga with a sword. Symbolically, this ceremony signifies the release of the supply of water for the next year and separates the pure from evil. Traditionally, the tooth relic is believed to save the country from drought.
The processions comprises of 5 separate peraheras; one from the Dalada Maligava and 4 others from the 4 Devales of Vishnu, Natha, Pattini and Kataragama. The route of the processions change from one day to the next, though the path is always led by the perahera that commences from the Dalada Maligava. Each procession features an elephant that carries insignia of its temple. The Procession from the Dalada Maligava carries the tooth relic itself. The end and beginning of each procession is indicated with a deafening shot of a cannon.
During the Esala Perahara Festival, the streets of Sri Lanka are decked in colors, beckoning hundreds and thousands of performers, visitors and spectators to participate in the processions. It is one of the grandest festivals held in the country, and its size keeps growing with each passing year.
This festival of ten nights begins on the new moon of July, Esala Full Moon Poya Day. In a way, it is also considered as a ritual to enact the summoning of rains. It begins with a “Kap” Tree Planting Ceremony in which cuttings of an Esala, Rukkattana or Jak Tree are planted in the 4 Devales, signifying an oath to celebrate the festival.
Every night, a procession or perahera is organized through the streets of Kandy. The procession that takes place in the first five nights are held relatively on a low key and are called Kumbal Perahera. The final five nights known as the Randoli Perahera, are more spectacular. The tooth relic placed in a golden casket, is carried on the back of an elephant, through the streets of Kandy, which is focal point in each procession.
Similarly, in August on Nikini Full Moon Poya Day, the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya (Temple) holds the Nikini Perahera to commemorate the time when a tooth relic of Lord Buddha’s was enshrined
August is also the time of the Vel Festival, a Hindu celebration by which the trident, the weapon of Hindu War God Skanda is laid on a golden chariot and is moved from the Kathiresan Kovil (“Kovil” meaning “Temple”) to the Kovil in Bambalapitiya or Wellawatte. This is also an annual event.
In the month of September, participate in the annual Vintage Car Rally or “Old-Crocks Parade.” See the classical beauty of vintage motor vehicles ranging from the earliest MG classic sports cars to the glorious convertibles as they are driven by the proud owners on the main streets of Colombo.
Then discover your inner child as you set out to the Mount Lavinia Beach and enjoy the sun and breeze at the National Kites Festival. This event is organised to bring out the creativity in children and adults. Many folks visit the beach to enjoy these creations in the sky. Kite enthusiasts show off their stunt skills and compete for awards. Anyone can enter the competition for free. Registration is required. Kites must be home-made and flown by the kite maker on the day of the competition.
Navarathri (literally "nine nights"), is a nine nights (and ten days) Hindu festival, celebrated in the Tamil month of Purattasi (17 September to 17 October) every year. It is celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. There are two seasonal Navaratri in a year. This festival in this month is called Sharada Navaratri that is the most celebrated for Goddess Durga.
In India, Goddess Durga battles and emerges victorious over the buffalo demon Mahishasuran to help restore Dharma.
Celebrations include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. The nine days are also a major seasonal and cultural event, and the public celebrations of classical and folk dances of Hindu culture. On the final day, called the Vijayadashami or Dussehra, the statues are either immersed in a water body such as river and ocean, or alternatively the statue symbolizing the evil is burnt with fireworks marking the destruction of evil.
The nine day long Navarathri Festival is celebrated by Hindus to commemorate Goddess Dugra’s fight the Asura.
A Hindu celebration, Deepavali also known as the Festival of Lights comes alive in late October or early November as Hindus celebrate the Goddess of Wealth and Fortune – Goddess Lakshmi’s triumph of good over all evil. The festival includes Hindu homes lighting lamps and lights to commemorate the beginning of the Hindu financial year.
Another highlight of November would be the annual World Spice Festival, which beckons culinary artistes to the pearl of the Indian Ocean to exhibit their gastronomic skills to the world. Chefs from countries like Africa, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France and Australia, as well as visitors from around the world arrive in Colombo to taste the flavours of the world.
December is considered a time for celebrations, and likewise many celebrations are in store for visitors to Sri Lanka.
In the run up to Christmas and the New Year, the population await with glee view the decorations at roundabouts, in hotel gardens and car parks, trees decked in shimmering lights along the streets. Christmas is celebrated by Catholics and Christians with traditional trappings, religious festivals, concerts and parties all over Sri Lanka.
As the New Year beckons, partake in the many New Year parties at any of the prestigious hotels in Sri Lanka and have yourselves a jolly good time.
Another religious event would be the Sangamittha Perehera, which falls on Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day and commemorates the day by which Venerable Sangamittha, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka brought a branch of the Sacred Bo Tree to Sri Lanka. The Perehera, which is organised by Handala Rajamaha Viharaya in Handala, is a colourful procession, with elephant parades, dancers and awe-inspiring performances.
Sri Lanka has become one of the world’s most popular destinations to get married and enjoy a honeymoon. Little wonder, for more and more visitors are getting married in traditional style in Sri Lanka. It’s a magical setting to choose for a public declaration of a lifelong commitment.
Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, a reflection of successive waves of foreign immigrants. The main ethnic groups today are the Sinhalese and Tamils. Ther there are Muslim, the Malays and Chinese along with the Dutch Burghers. Whatever their situation in society, the people of Sri Lanka possess a warm and friendly nature reflected in persistent smiling faces and eagemess to help those unfamiliar with aspects of local life. You’ll find that Sri Lankans are particularly charming and hospitable.