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Festivals in Sri Lanka

Less is More

When visiting the land of more holidays than anywhere on earth, take note of Full moon, as each one is celebrated as a Poya holiday and strictly regarded by Buddhists as a day when alcohol is taboo. The current calendar lists 29 public holidays and that is merely religious celebrations! So if you have missed the splendour of the famous Kandy Pera Hera don’t despair. In Sri Lanka, where four world religions have much to celebrate, there is always a frenzied, colourful festival round the next corner and often smaller crowds mean a far better view. So if you find yourself in a bottle-neck with an elephant on your path, remember you’re in the land of holidays and partake in the fiesta.

January/February:
Thai Pongal is a harvest festival: Visitors welcomed with festive food. Along the coast from Colombo to Negombo on various weekends in January, fireworks and a noisy, brightly lit Catholic street festival takes place.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare holds Duruthu Perahara to celebrate Lord Buddha first visit to the Sri Lanka at this temple.
Gangarama Navam Pera Hera is a small but spectacular procession of drummers, dancers and elephants around the Beira Lake (Colombo).

March:
Hindus celebrate Mahasivarathri in February/early March to commemorate Lord Siva with all the appropriate self-mutilation.
A very vibrant and well attended Vel procession with gilded chariot drawn by Hindu devotees takes place in Matale. It is rumoured Prabbakaren himself attends incognito.

April:
Sinhala & Tamil Ayurvedu. New Year brings the whole island out on vacation to celebrate with folk dancing, elephant races and games like coconut shies & greasy pole. Everyone wears new outfits and traditional foods are served at auspicious times.
Roman Catholics celebrate Easter with a mini Oberammergau on the tiny island of Duwa, near Negombo.
The Hindu Pattini Festival is held in both Badulla & Hanguranketta to honour Pattini, Goddess of Health and chastity who has curative powers.

May:
Vesak, the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals is a triple whammy of the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha is celebrated with kites, lights and children singing Vesak carols.
Wadua Pera Hera is in Panadura, near Colombo.

July:
This is the season of festivals with many Essala Pera Hera’s taking place all around the island this month. A Pera Hera is religious procession with dancers, tom-toms, whip-cracking acrobats in a frenzy and elephants kitted out in party gear.
Vel festival in Bambalapitiya (Colombo) to venerate Lord Skanda.
Maha Pera Hera on 29July in Kataragama.
Water cutting ceremony in Menik Ganga 30th(daytime).
Water Cutting ceremony (to ensure rain) at Gatembe on the Mahaweli Ganga, Kandy on last day of Essala Pera Hera.
Uddapu and Mundel festivals in late July/August display some mean fire-walking which is ideal for photography.
Dondra Festival in Devinuwara (near Tangalle) In this island of contrasts and phenomena here is a Buddhist Pera Hera which venerates Lord Vishnu! It draws pilgrims from both religions with folk dancing, fire-walking and much of the tongue-and-spear-in-cheek penance practiced in Kataragama.

August:
Roman Catholic retreat to the Jungle shrine of Madhu(170 miles Colombo).
Gam maduwa, holds a propitiation ceremony 3 miles from Ginigathena.
Belangvilla Temple in Dehiwela (Colombo) hosts a colourful Pera Hera.
The Kali Festival is held in Munneswaram off the Chilaw coast.

September:
Pera Hera at Mahiyangane is unique due to being the only festival participated by Lanka’s Veddha tribes.

November:
Deepavali is the Hindu Festival of Light when thousands of oil lamps are lit to celebrate triumph of Good over evil and welcomes Lakskmi, Goddess of Wealth.

December:
The beginning of Pilgrims season for Siri Pade which continues until April.

Festivals in Sri Lanka