8 November 2024 | 12 min
8 November 2024 | 12 min
Thai Pongal is the first cultural festival that is held in January as the years begins in Sri Lanka. The festival is held in the harvest season as an expression of gratitude to God for the bountiful harvest. This festival is celebrated by preparing a special meal known as Pongal which is made from freshly harvested rice, lentils and jiggery.
The families come together to offer prayers and celebrate with traditional dance and music and the entrances of the houses are decorated with some decorate live patterns (Kolams) made of rice flour.
This is the grand Buddhist procession that is held on February in Sri Lanka. This cultural event takes place in Colombo and it is accompanied by dancers, drummers and flag bearers. This festival comes to an end at the Gangaramaya Temple where the devotee usually come together to pay homage and witness religious rituals.
Maha Shivarathri is an important Hindu festival that is dedicated to lord Shiva and it takes place in the month of March. During this festival the believers usually take part in fasting and visit the temple to offer prayers throughout the night. As the event takes place the air ids filled with devotion, hymns and chants.
The temple is usually beautifully decorated during the festival and the believers often carry pots of milk as an offering to lord Shiva.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a cultural festival help by people of Sri Lank at the beginning of the traditional new year. It is celebrated in the month of April. This event is marked by joyous festivities which bring together families to enjoy special meals together, perform traditional games and gift each other. This festival is marked by rituals such as lighting of oil lamps and with the hope of having a better year ahead.
This event is also known as Buddha Purnima which is held in commemoration of birth, education and death of Lord Buddha. It is held in the month of May and it is considered one of the most significant events in Sri Lanka.
During Vesak Poya Festival the homes and temples are decorated with vibrant lanterns and the believer usually come together for procession, prayers and other generous acts such as helping the needy.
Poson Full Moon Festival is another important cultural festival that is celebrated in June to mark the introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is held in June in remembrance of Arahat Mahinda who arrived in Sri Lanka in June and introduced Buddhism to the Island. To celebrate this day the believers usually visit some traditional sacred sites such as Anuradhapura and Mihintale where the special religious events are held.
This cultural festival seeks to put some emphasize on the need to adhere to the teachings of Lord Buddha and enhance spiritual reflection and knowledge.
Kataragama Festival
This is a cultural festival held in Sri Lanka during the month of July in celebration of Lord Skanda who is the Hindu God of war. During this festival the believers from different religious background usually congregate at the sacred kataragama temple complex which is located in the Southern Sri Lanka.
This festival involves acts such as fire walking, acts of self- punishments which is later followed by a beautiful procession. This event shows a beautiful combination of Hindu and indigenous traditions.
This is another critical Hindu festival that is held in July that is dedicated to Lord Murugan. This festival is held in Colombo and attracted large crowds of believers. The believers join a procession carrying a sacred spear like weapon that is associated with Lord Murugan. As this event is ongoing the beautiful chariots, traditional dance performances and traditional music create a feeling and festive environment.
Pada Yatra Pilgrimage is cultural festival that takes place in August and it is considered the oldest in Sri Lanka. During the event the pilgrims usually start on a spiritual journey by walking from Jaffna to Kataragama which covers a distance of over 400 km.
To test the devotion and endurance of the pilgrims the pilgrimage last for several weeks. The participants of this event receive kind generous support from the locals and get a chance to experience the hospitality of the people of Sri Lanka.
Kandy Esala Perahera is also referred as the festival of tooth and is held in Candy during the month of August. This festival is one of the most famous and widely celebrated in Sri Lanka. This event is characterized by traditional dances, covered elephants, flag bearers and drummers. To celebrate the festival the people match they carry the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha and it is believed to bring prosperity and blessings to the country.
This is one of the vibrant and colorful Hindu festivals that is held in Jaffna during the month of August. The believers usually congregate at the Nallu kandaswamy Kovil Temple which is among the most important temple of Hindus in Sri Lankan as they seek blessings from Lord Murugan.
This event is marked by intricate rituals, beautiful match on and cultural performances from the attendees.
Deepavali festival also known as Diwali is a festival of lights that is celebrated by Hinds across the world, which also happens in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most significance and widely celebrated festival in the country and it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, which also means the good success over the evil. This event is held in the month of November.
To mark this festival the homes of believers are decorated with oil lamps, beautiful rangoli designs and fireworks illuminating the sky. The families gift each other and prayers are offered to gods for blessings, happiness and prosperity.
It is crucial to ensure that you dress appropriately in a way that reflects comfort and cultural sensitivity. It is recommended that you dress modesty while attending the cultural festivals although the events may vary slightly. To enjoy comfort of the tropical climate of Sri Lanka, it is advisable to put on the clothes that are loose fitting made of breathable fabric like cotton.
Women can put on long skirts and dresses that cover their knees, complemented by a modest blouse or top. Men can opt for lightweight trousers or sarongs with a comfortable shirt. Whenever you are visiting the temple and other religious sites always make sure you dress respectfully by covering your legs and shoulders.
Festivals in Sri Lanka are part of the people and their way of life. They are very important events that offers a mix of cultural traditions, spirituality and communal celebrations. Regardless of the motivations for your visit to Sri Lanka these festivals usually provide a unique opportunity for the visitors to experience the cultural and religious diversity of Sri Lankans. Get your Sri Lanka visa ready and travel to this exciting country and explore their enchanting culture.
As you enjoy these thrilling and memorable festivals always remember to respect the culture and religious believes by dressing appropriately to show respect of customs and traditions.