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TRAVELLERS' TIPS | ANNUAL EVENTS JANUARY Duruthu Perahera (25th, 26th & 27th) This colourful festival commemorates the Buddha's visit to Kelaniya in the eighth year following his Enlightenment (535 BC). The procession commences and culminates at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Colombo. The Kelaniya dagoba, unusual for its "paddy heap" design, is attributed to King Yatala Tissa (3rd Cent. BC); and the temple is renowned for its intricate wall paintings and murals. Thai Pongal (14th) This Hindu festival celebrates the harvest and honours the Hindu Sun deity. It is marked by many observances, including the ceremonial preparation and consumption of traditional sweetened and spiced rice called pongal. In rural areas it is followed immediately after by Madu Pongal, which consecrates domestic livestock. FEBRUARY Independence Day (4th) Celebrations full of pomp and pageantry mark the anniversary of Independence from Great Britain in 1948. Navam Perahera (25th & 26th) This is undoubtedly Colombo's grandest outdoor parade, with a splendid display of Sri Lanka's traditional forms of art: including performances by rhythmic dancers and drummers from around the island in a procession of over 100 caparisoned elephants. Maha Sivarathri Held in late February or early March, this festival commemorates the union of Lord Siva with his consort Parvati. MARCH By the end of the month many flowering trees begin to bloom, clothing cities and the countryside in gay attire; and several fruits are in season. The Medin Poya full moon is the climax of the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season, which extends from December to May each year. APRIL April ushers in the season for song and celebration, as the busy months spent tending paddy fields draw to a close. Sinhala & Tamil New Year Sri Lanka's two main ethnic groups - the Sinhalese and Tamils - celebrate a common New Year coinciding with the passage of the Sun from Pisces to Aries in April. The dawn of the New Year is celebrated with the observance of age-old customs, folk dances and theatre, and the playing of traditional games in every village and hamlet. Special foods and sweetmeats are a delightful feature of this event. April is the month of fruits and flowers, as well as of festivals for all races and religions in Sri Lanka. Christians celebrate Easter, with Roman Catholics conducting a splendid passion play similar to that of Oberammergau at Duwa, off Negombo; and Hindus celebrate the Pattini Festival, chiefly at Badulla. This is the warmest month of the year, during which many residents of Colombo retreat to the cooler climes of the hill country, especially to Nuwara Eliya: scene of numerous seasonal activities such as tennis and golf tournaments, horse races and exotic flower shows. The towns of Bandarawela and Diyatalawa are also popular resorts. MAY VESAK A thrice blessed day for Buddhists, Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. It is celebrated with a blaze of lights, lanterns and huge illuminated displays known as pandals, as well as with street-plays, pantomimes, pageants and dansal - roadside booths at which free refreshments are distributed to all passers-by. JUNE Poson Festival - Mihintale This full moon festival commemorates the advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC with the arrival in Mihintale of Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, who preached the doctrine of the dhamma to King Devanampiyatissa: resulting in his the king's conversion and the widespread acceptance of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. This event is celebrated primarily at Mihintale and at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura. Roman Catholics celebrate the fortnight-long festival of Our Lady of Madhu, culminating on July 2 with the Feast of the Visitation, at the jungle shrine of Madhu near Mannar - popular among pilgrims of all religions for its reputed healing powers. The fruit season is in full swing and markets and bazaars are fragrant with the scents of a cornucopia of exotic tropical fruits. JULY / AUGUST Several festivals are held in late July or early August, depending on the date of the Esala Poya full moon … Kandy Esala Perahera The Esala Perahera, held in the hill capital of Kandy, is one of the most magnificent spectacles in Asia. It traces its roots to King Siri Meghavanna or Kithsiri Mevan (304-332 AD), during whose reign the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha - the centerpiece of the festival and symbol of the country's sovereignty - was borne to Sri Lanka from Kalinga by a Brahmin princess; but its present form was inaugurated by the 18th century Kandyan King Kirti Sri Rajasingha. The festival commences with nightly processions over 10 days and culminates in a day procession on the eleventh. Hundreds of costumed dancers, drummers, musicians, torch-bearers, whip-crackers, acrobats and other participants parade along the streets, while colourfully caparisoned elephants pace majestically past. Smaller peraheras are conducted concurrently at Kotte (5 miles/8 km from Colombo), Bellanwila (8/13), Lunawa (10/16), Ratnapura (56/90), Hanguranketa (89/142), Devinuwara (104/166) and Mahiyangana (118/189). Kataragama Festival The ancient jungle shrine of Kataragama on the banks of the Menik (Gem) River in the southeast corner of the island has been a place of pilgrimage for over two millennia and is the focal point of a two week-long festival and perahera in July/August honouring the Hindu war-god Skanda, also known as Murugan. Pilgrims, including those from India, begin their trek to the site weeks - and sometimes months - in advance. A striking feature of the festival is the self-mortification devotees inflict upon themselves, either in repentance for wrongdoing or in fulfillment of vows. These amazing deeds of faith include the skewering of bodies, suspension from hooks pierced through flesh and fire-walking. Visitors to Kataragama include both Hindus and Buddhists, as well as some Muslims, who have their own shrine, the Khidr maqam dedicated to Al-Khidr, the 'green one'. Kataragama Festival This annual festival is the occasion when the Vel or trident, the weapon of Kathiresan, an aspect of the Hindu war-god Skanda, is borne in a gorgeous gilded chariot from the Kathiresan kovil in Sea Street, Colombo 11 to a kovil in Bambalapitiya (Col. 4) or Wellawatte (Col. 6) in alternation each year. It lasts three days and nights and is distinguished by its carnival atmosphere. Several Hindu kovils in the Jaffna Peninsula celebrate festivals during this season: among others, those at Nallur, Vallipuram, Maviddapuram, Nainativu island and Thondamannar, which features fire-walking. Fire-walking ceremonies are also held at Udappu and Mundel. The Kali Festival at Munneswaram, off Chilaw, is an annual draw. Roman Catholics observe the annual Feast of St. Anne, dedicated to the mother of the Virgin Mary, on July 26 at Talawila church - reputed as a place of miraculous healing - on the Kalpitiya peninsula. Among the fruits available in abundance during this period are luscious mangosteen, rambuttan, durian, avocado, mango, custard-apple and guava. SEPTEMBER The annual Vintage Car Rally is a popular event featuring an impressive line-up of over 125 "Old Crocks" ranging from the earliest cars to sporty MGs and convertibles of yesteryear. The annual Kite Festival, held in the heart of Colombo by the sea, offers a spectacular kaleidoscope of airborne creations that are truly breath-taking. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER Deepavali Deepavali, the joyous Hindu Festival of Lights, is observed in late October or early November to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. It marks the beginning of the financial year for the Hindu business community. Ramazan At the end of 28 days of fasting Muslims celebrate Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan) with prayers and sumptuous feasts, invitations to which are cherished by their friends of other faiths. DECEMBER Christmas(25th) Christmas is celebrated in Sri Lanka in true style, with all the traditional trappings - except snow - and is eagerly anticipated by those of all religions as a time of revelry. Indeed, the week leading up to the dawn of the New Year is one long extended period of goodwill and merry-making. The annual Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) Pilgrimage Season begins in late December, with devotees making the ascent to the 7362 ft. (2245 mt.) mountain's summit up until the advent of the southwest monsoon in April/May. The peak is crowned by the impression of a gigantic footprint, which is venerated by pilgrims of all religions. Buddhists pay homage to it as that of Lord Buddha, made during his third visit to the island; Hindus believe it was made by the Creative Dance of Siva; while Muslims and Christians revere it as that of Adam, with Roman Catholics sometimes attributing it to St. Thomas. |