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Sir Lanka Fastivals
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Independence Day |
Sri lanka acquired
independence in 1948 on 04 th February. There are many
celebrations around the country on this special holiday and
the main one is usually in Parliamentary grounds in Sri
Jayawardhanapura and is attended by politicians, diplomats
etc.
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Maha Sivarathri |
This important religious
festival is held end February or beginning March. Poojas are
held through out the country all night and vigils are held
in the households.
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Gangaramaya Navam Perahera |
All visitors to the Capital
during this period can experience the perahera and witness
the colourfully dressed elephants and musicians and dancers
parading in the streets of Colombo.
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Sinhala and Tamil New Year |
Celebrated by all Sinhalese
and Tamils, the traditional New Year celebrations fall on
between 12 to 14 April and is the celebration of Sun God's
passage from Pisces to Aries. It is a harvest thanksgiving
and is mainly celebrated by the villagers in true
traditional style. A colourful and extravagant festival,
this season is usually a holiday for the whole country. The
Aluth Avurudu (New Year) is a time for friendships and
family and many traditions are observed according to the
litha (A strological time). New clothes are worn, milk
boiled and traditional ricemilk with sweets fill the tables.
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Easter |
Celebrated by Catholics around the country but mainly in the
coastal area around Kandana, Negombo etc., The crucification
of Christ is acted- out for three hours and is a touchy
experience taking you to the mountain of Golgotha.
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Wesak |
Wesak , the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals
commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the
Buddha is held on the full moon day in May and the day
following it. Starting at dawn, Buddhists dressed in white
start to make their way to the temple to observe sila , in
which they spend the day meditating, reading religious
texts, and listening to sermons. At night the temples are
crowded with devotees bringing flowers and offerings.
Nevertheless, Wesak is a joyous occasion and is celebrated
with verve and imagination.
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The Esala Perahera in Kandy |
One of the most glamorous cultural processions in the world.
The procession takes place on 10 consecutive nights, where
the first six nights are known as Kumbal perahera and the
last four nights is the much more glamorous Randoli perahera
with the final night having a 100 elephants adorned in
elegant costumes parading. The event is celebrated once a
year since the 3 rd century AD to allow pilgrims to pay
homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic carried by the Diyawadana
Nilame, selected to be the trustee of the temple.
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Vel |
If you happen to be in Colombo at the time of the Esala
Perahera in Kandy, do make a note to see the religious
celebrations of the Hindus, held in Colombo, another
procession where the God of war carries his Vel (trident
weapon) from the Muthuvinayagam Swami Kovil in Sea Street,
Pettah, to the Kathiresan in Bambalapitiya or Wellawatte.
You can observe the fetival during the day, if you're on
Galle Road between Pettah and Bambalapitiya.
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Deepavali |
This is the beginning of the financial year for the Hindu
business community. The Goddess of wealth is welcomed to
homes decorated with kolam and lit with lamps.
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Christmas |
The month of Christmas is a
high trading month in Colombo where people are preparing of
Christmas and New Year celebrations. Christmas is mainly
glamorous in Colombo and the coastal catholic areas, where
the birth of Christ is celebrated with crackers, mid-night
mass, family gatherings and joyous sharing with the poor.
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Sri Lanka Travel Information |
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