Sri Lanka

Perahera | Pandols | Floats

Elephants | Dancers | Performers

January

Duruthu Perahera

Held on the first poya of the year, it is organized by the Kelaniya Temple (Raja Maha Viharaya) to celebrate Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.

BLOG : Duruthu Perahera

Thai Pongal

Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival. The Tamil hindu community observes it at the start of the month Tai, which is typically about January 14. It is dedicated to the Hindu sun god( surya) , and corresponds to  the harvest festival. The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal.

February

Independence Day

February 4th marks the day that Sri Lanka gained independence from the British Empire. After 3 consecutive occupations by European power, Sri Lanka finally was free from the colonial enterprise in 1948.
Celebration are done with a military parade in the heart of Colombo while the citizens enjoy with a quiet meal at home. You will find many programs of Sri Lankan Heroism and History, dating from pre-colonial, the great betrayal of the Kandyan Kingdom to the British, and struggles under occupation aired on TV.

Navam Perahera

Celebrated by the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, it is one that could be easily accessed if you happen to be in Colombo.

March

Mahashivarathri

It is a major festival in Hinduism, and this festival is solemn and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.

April

Avurudu (Sinhala & Tamil New Year)

13th and 14th of April marks the celebration of the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. It is the most important nonreligious holiday with people celebrating the transitioning from the old year to the new. People celebrate by careful preparation, a period of abstinence from work, followed by lighting of fire and boiling of milk. A series of auspicious times for particular rites are prepared re follwed by the people.

May

Vesak Poya

Vesak poya is the most important Buddhist holiday in the calender. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. You will see the cities decorated in beautiful lantern and large pandols.

June

Poson Poya

June brings another Buddhist festival which celebrates the arrival of Mahinda and Buddhism is Sri Lanka. Pilgrimages to Mihintale and climbing of Mihintale Rock , the place where Mahinda was said to have arrived during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, is done by scores of devotees.

July

Kataragama

A Hindu festival which is ingrained into both Tamil and Sinhalese culture, is celebrated by both people alike. According to legend, Skanda arrived in Sri Lanka and liked the gifts bestowed by the Sinhalese – a house of leaves and a beautiful consort.  And it is the romantic union of Skanda and Valli Matha that is commemorated annually.

The preparation of religious rites and festivities of Esala Perehara are begun in July and climax with the Kandy Esala Perahera in August.

August

Kandy Esala Perehara

It is the largest and most flamboyant event in the calender and not to be missed if you are in the country. The Perahera is of utmost importance with the Tooth Relic peraded around on top of a huge Tusker.

Nallur Festival

Another important Hindu Festival, it celebrated in Jaffna’s Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. It consist of mind boggling acts of  piercing, mutilation by dovotees in trances as they parade with floats.

October

Deepawali

One of the most important Hindu festivals, the Hindu festival of lights symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”

December

Sri Pada pilgrimage

Believed by Buddhists to be the foot print of Buddha, thousands of devotees begin their pilgrimage to Sri Padaya in December. Adams Peak is a name given  by colonialists to match with their Christian narrative, it’s attributed by other religions alike. The trek is grueling with many devotee making multiple trips during their lifetime.

Unduvap Poya

It commemorates Sangamitta bringing a branch of the sacred Bo Tree in India to Anuradhapura.