>> | Welcome | Accommodation | Weddings | Excursions | Festivals | Location | Info | Booking |
Sri Lanka is said to have more public holidays than any other country: Sri Lankans celebrate the Buddhist festivals as well as many Christian, Hindu and Muslim festivals. On many of these festivals, there are colourful public displays and processions. Because many of these festivals are linked to lunar or solar phases, their exact dates change from year to year.
The dates of most Muslim festivals are based on the Islamic Calendar. This religious calendar has about 354 days, rather than the approx. 365 days in the international civil Gregorian Calendar. So, the dates of most Muslim festivals change by about 11 days from year to year.
The full moon (poya) day of each month marks the start of the new month. Each of these days has a distinct religious significance and is known by its traditional name.
Signals the start of the three-month pilgrimage season to Sri Pada (The Footprint of Buddha) or Adam's Peak (the footprint of Adam - the first man in the Koran and Bible, as Sri Lanka is believed to be by some - the Garden of Eden). Celebrates the first of the Buddha's three legendary visits to Sri Lanka.
Hindu. January 14/15. Celebrates Surya, the Sun god; Indra, the bringer of rains; and the cow.
A colourful religious festival at the Kelaniya Temple about 10km inland from the city of Colombo. This festival commemorates the third visit of Buddha to Sri Lanka. There are actually three separate, increasingly colourful and impressive processions of caparisoned elephants, torch bearers and traditional dancers:
Marks the Buddha's announcement of his approaching Parinirvana .
4th February. Sri Lanka commemorates 4th February 1948 when Britain granted independence to its former colony of Ceylon. A great patriotic and national occasion celebrated with colourful parades, pageants, games and dances.
Marks the Buddha's first visit following his enlightenment to the palace of his father King Suddhodana, to show his relatives the path to enlightenment.
Hindu. Feb/March. Honours Shiva. Devotees fast for a day and hold an all-night vigil.
Celebrates the Buddha's second legendary visit to Sri Lanka.
13th/14th April. The Sinhalese and the Tamils celebrate the traditional New Year with a family festival, wearing new clothes, performing rituals such as making kiribath, exchanging presents. People observe traditional customs with merrymaking, fun, games and lavish hospitality.
Christian. Marks the crucifixion of Christ.
The most important Buddhist poya: Thrice blessed day for Buddhists throughout the world; Commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha, his attaining enlightenment and passing away into Nibbana (Nirvana) as Gauthama Buddha. Also celebrates the Buddha's third legendary visit to Sri Lanka. It is a day of great sanctity devoted to religious observances and charity. Devout buddhists fast, meditate and visit temples. Vesak marks the end of the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.
The day is also celebrated with festivity, with colourful decorations, illuminations and pageants. Buses and cars are decorated with streamers. Decorative lanterns are hung in front of houses and huge panels decorated with scenes from the life of the Buddha – pandals (thorana), – are erected. After dark, many of these pandals are transformed by thousands of coloured light-bulbs, displaying complicated sequences of traditional patterns. Wayside stalls distribute food and refreshments to the pilgrims and passers by.
Beliatta, near Dickwella, usually has a beautiful Thoron. Families come from miles around to marvel at it and to visit the nearby fairground with its variety of stalls.
1st May. May Day bank holiday.
Second in importance only to Vesak poya: Marks the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. The day is celebrated with religious observances and festivals, especially at Mihintale, about 10km east of the ancient northern city of Anuradhapura, where the Buddhist doctrine was first preached by Arahat Mahinda, son of the great Emperor Ashoka of India. Apart from religious festivals there are illuminations and decorations and processions in various parts of the island.
Marks the Buddha's first sermon and the arrival of the sacred Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka.
Esala (July/August) is the season of festivals in Sri Lanka and the full moon day of Esala is the climax of some of the festivals. The exact dates of the Esala Peraheras and of the other festivals are announced only during the first quarter of the year.
The most famous of these festivals is the Kandy Esala Perahera. A spectacular medieval day pageant is held for 10 nights climaxing with the Kandyan dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes. Kandyan Chieftains in medieval court dress, more than one hundred caparisoned elephants, whip crackers, torch bearers etc., draw large numbers of devotees and visitors.
Although less famous outside Sri Lanka, the Kataragama festival is a major Esala Festival. Kataragama in the South-East corner of the island is a jungle shrine dedicated to God Skanda and is a popular pilgrim centre for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda. Pilgrims take a sacred bath in the Manik Ganga (or Manika Gangai, River of Gems). There is fire walking and the annual perahera in July/August. The pageants include whip crackers and fire dancers; with troupes of dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes; torch bearers and many caparisoned elephants.
1st week of August. Close to Dickwella in southern Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo is the shrine dedicated to God Vishnu at Dondra, where Esala Festivals take place every year with a colourful perahera featuring troupes of dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes; torch bearers and caparisoned elephants.
1st week of August. About 75 km north of Colombo (3 km from Chilaw) is a Hindu shrine dedicated to God Siva where a colourful temple festival with fire walking takes place during the Esala Festival time. This is a popular pilgrim centre for both Hindus and Buddhists.
Buddhist monastic communities start a period of fasting and retreat to commemorate the retreat of the Bhikkhus three months after the Buddha's death, to hold the first convocation.
Sri Lanka's main Hindu festival. Celebrates Skanda/Kataragama; ornate processions feature the god's chariot and vel (spear).
Celebrates the Buddha's journey to heaven to preach to his mother and the celestrial multitude. Also the establishment of the Bhikkhuni (nun's) Order.
Hindu. September/October. Honours Durga. Also celebrates the victory of Rama over Ravana.
End of the Buddhist period of fasting: Commemorates the Buddha's return to earth.
Hindu Festivals of Lights commemorating the return of Rama from exile and the triumph of light over darkness; good over evil. Celebrations include the lighting of lamps and the wearing of new clothes.
Christian. Celebrates the birth of Christ.
Marks the arrival in Anuradhapura of the true sapling of the sacred Bo-tree under which Gauthama Buddha attained enlightenment in India. The sapling of the Bodhi tree was brought by Arahat Theri Sangamitta, sister of Arahat Mahinda and daughter of Emperor Ashoka.
| Welcome | Accommodation | Weddings | Excursions | Festivals | Location | Info | Booking |
Friendly & relaxing comfort at Premlanka Hotel, Dickwella, Matara District, Southern Sri Lanka.
© 2008–09. Prepared and published by Curlew Communications Ltd.