Joanna James
There are a number of fascinating cultural festivals that you could experience during your visit to Sri Lanka; these include the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Kandy Esala Perahera, Maha Shivarathri, Vesak Poya and more. These celebrations are sure to enthral all culture lovers.
Undoubtedly, the important Sinhala and Tamil New Year is counted amongst Sri Lanka’s most significant festivals. During this occasion, which falls in mid-April, the entire island engages in vibrant festivities with a joyous spirit. In preparation for this event, locals clean and decorate their homes, whilst making delicious traditional desserts and sweets. On New Year's Day itself, Sri Lankans attire themselves in finery, engage in many special customs and observances, and indulge in various festive games as well.
This much-looked-forward-to celebration, which extends over a week, may be counted amongst the nation’s oldest and most elaborate Buddhist festivals. Falling on the Esala month (July or August in the Western calendar), this extravagant procession honours the greatly venerated tooth relic of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, which is enshrined in Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth Relic. In this amazing procession, you will see numerous drummers, dancers, musicians, acrobats, jugglers and lavishly caparisoned elephants. A travel company in Sri Lanka to consider that offers tours to Kandy and other culturally rich destinations on the island is Ceylon Tours.
Meanwhile, Maha Shivarathri is a religious celebration of the Hindus of the island nation. This occasion commemorates the marriage of the god Shiva to the goddess Parvati. On this day, numerous prayer sessions, night-long vigils and celebratory parties are conducted in various parts of the country. Further, Hindus purify themselves with a bath and bathe statues of Shiva with honey and milk; the statues are also covered with red vermilion in order to symbolise the purification of the soul.
Another noteworthy Buddhist festival is the significant Vesak Poya Day, which falls on the full moon day of the Vesak month in the lunar calendar; this corresponds with the month of May in the Western calendar. This day commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passage into nirvana of the Buddha. At the time of this festival, buildings and homes are decorated with lanterns and colourful lights. Naturally, many religious activities are conducted on this occasion, while locals also engage in merit-making acts like offering free food or drinks at stalls on the roadsides.
Meanwhile, the Nallur Festival is a major religious event amongst the Hindus of Jaffna, located in the north of Sri Lanka. The hub of the festivities is the well-known Kandaswamy Temple, where innumerable devotees gather during the event. At the climax of the celebrations, a massive chariot happens to be pulled by crowds of men clad in sarongs; the next day, some worshippers engage in self-mutilation to honour the deity, making this festival quite an arresting sight.
As its name indicates, this famed festival is conducted at Kataragama, a rather far-flung town in the south of the island nation. Interestingly, this celebration occurs in the same timeframe as the Kandy Esala Perahera. Whilst the Kataragama Festival is observed by Hindus and Buddhists, people of other faiths, including Muslims and the indigenous Veddahs, also take part in it. In the course of the festivities, you may observe parades featuring elephants, dancers, musicians, jugglers, fire eaters and more.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
