Calendar of Events  2006

The exact dates of Sri Lanka’s festivals change from year to year as they depend on lunar or solar phases.

DECEMBER - APRIL

Sri Pada Pilgrimage season

Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak as it is  commonly known, is a mountain  2237 meters high situated in the South- west corner of Central Highlands. Thousands of pilgrims from many faiths climb the mountain to pay homage and make observance commencing from full-moon day of December to the full-moon day of April the following year. Buddhists believe that it enshrines the foot print of Gauthama Buddha at the summit. Hindus , Muslims and Christians also make pilgrimage for their own religious reasons. The spectacle of sunrise from the mountain top is an unforgettable sight.

JANUARY 15th

Durutu Perahera

A colourful religious pageant at the Kelaniya Temple 12 km away from the city of Colombo. It is a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants, torch bearers and traditional dancers.

 FEBRUARY 04th

 Independence Day

 This day commemorates the granting of independence to Sri Lanka by the British on 04th February 1948. It is a great patriotic and national occasion celebrated with colourful parades and pageants depicting the nation’s culture and achievements.

FEBRUARY 22nd & 23rd

Navam Perahera

 A  colourful traditional perahera organised by Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo parades the city streets for two nights. Dances, elephants, whip crackers make it an unforgettable event.

APRIL 13th & 14th

 Sinhala and Tamil New Year

  The two main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka , the Sinhalese and the Tamils celebrate a common traditional New Year in the month of April originally harvesting thanks giving . This marks the passage of the sun from Pisces to Aries. Traditional customs are observed on this day with merrymaking and fun and games and lavish hospitality.

MAY 01st

May Day

  International Workers’ Day is celebrated with colourful parades and rallies organised by the leading Trade Unions.

MAY 15th & 16th

Vesak Full Moon

  Vesak is a thrice blessed day for Buddhists throughout the world . It commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha, his attaining enlightenment and passing away into Nibbana as Gauthama Buddha. It is a day of great sanctity devoted to religious observances and charity. The day is also celebrated with festivity with numerous colourful decorations and illuminations, pandals and pageants. Wayside stalls distribute food and refreshments to the pilgrims and passers by.

 JUNE 14th

Poson Full Moon

  Poson, the full-moon festival commemorates the advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. The day  is celebrated with religious observances. The centre of festivities is at Mihintale (about 10km) from Anuradhapura where the Buddhist doctrine was first preached by Arahat Mahinda, son of the great Emperor Asoka of India. Apart from religious festivals there are illuminations and decorations and processions in various parts of the island.

 August 11th - August 19th

Esala Festivals – Kandy

 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 most magnificent 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., make it an unforgettable experience.

Kataragama

  The Kataragama festival is another of the major Esala Festivals. 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 and Hindus. Fire walking and the annual perahera in July/August are some of its highlights.  

Dondra

  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 colourful perahera featuring Kandyan and lower country dances.

Bellanwila

  A colourful Esala pageant is also held at the Rajamaha Vihara (Buddhist temple) at Bellanwila, a Southern suburb of Colombo. The perahera features low-country folk dancers in addition to Kandyan dancers.

 Munneswaram

About 75 km north of Colombo (3km 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.

 

AUGUST - 1st Week

Vel Festival

Some of Colombo’s main streets take on a festival atmosphere in August where the capital’s main Hindu festival takes place and ornately decorated Vel Chariot makes its annual trip carrying the weapons of God Skanda from one temple to the other.

(The exact date of the Kandy Esala Perahera and of the other festivals are announced only during the first quarter of the year.)

NOVEMBER 04th

Deepavali : Festival of Lights

  The festival of lights celebrated by all Hindus. Hindu homes are lit up at night, new clothes worn, homes spring-cleaned and all Hindus purify themselves with an oil bath. Illuminations are designed to welcome Lakshmi.

NOVEMBER 04th

Id-Ul-Fitr(Ramazan Festival)

  This day ending Islamic period of fasting is attended with joy and festivals.

DECEMBER 15th

Sangamitta day

(Unduwap Full Moon)

  This day marks the historic event of bringing the right branch of the sacred Bo-tree under which Gauthama Buddha attained enlightenment in India. The branch of the Bodhi tree was brought by Arahat Theri Sangamitta, sister of Arahat Mahinda and daughter of Emperor Asoka.

DECEMBER 25th

Christmas

  The Christmas day is celebrated by the Christian community  in Sri Lanka on this day.