Festivals
are a part of Sri Lankan culture. They can be either
Religious or National festivals and are observed in
grand scale.
Religious Festivals
Sri Lanka being a predominantly Buddhist country Buddhist
festivals are more frequent. Full moon day of each
month, called Poya day, is a day of religious observance
for the Buddhists. On every Poya day there is some
form of festival in the village temples. However the
major full moon days are Duruthu (January), Vesak
(May), Poson (June), Esala (August) and Unduvap (December)
observed with greater pomp and pageantry. Important
Hindu festivals are Thai Pongal (in January), Vel
(in July/August) and Deepavali (in November). Muslims
celebrate the Ramadan, Haj and Milad-un-Nabi festivals.
Christmas and Easter are celebrated by the Christians
in Sri Lanka.
Kandy Esala Perahera takes place on the full moon
day in August and pays homage to the Tooth Relic of
Lord Buddha. The sacred Tooth is carried in a magnificent
procession that includes temple chieftains, caparisoned
elephants, acrobats, frenzied drummers, trumpeters,
pipers, traditional dancers, torchbearers, and whip-crackers.
This festival, which has been described as the "most
spectacular event in Asia", lasts for 12 days.
Vel
is a Hindu festival held in Colombo in July or August
to venerate the God of War. A gilded chariot, containing
weapons of this fierce god is carried in a procession
that starts in a Kovil (Hindu temple) in Pettah. It
ends at a Kovil in Bambalapitya or Wellawatte, located
5 km away. The temples have stalls selling sugar-cane,
sweets and souvenirs.
Kataragama,
a town in the south of the island attracts pilgrims
from every part of the country. The temple 'Kataragama
Devale' is a focal point for Buddhists and Hindus
alike. Devotees make or fulfil pledges during this
period, in return for various favours from Sri Skanda
- the God of the Kataragama Devale. You will find
pilgrims partaking in religious ceremonies as well
as ritualistic torture practices which include rolling
naked on scorching sand, walking barefoot over searing
hot coals, flailing, piercing a spear through one
cheek, or skewering their tongue.
The
full moon day of Duruthu marks the first visit of
the Buddha to Sri Lanka. In commemoration of this
visit a procession (perahera) is held for three nights
in the month of January at Kelaniya (10 km. from Colombo).
It is a colourful pageant with elephants, dancers
and drummers, whip crackers attracting thousands of
spectators.
Thai
Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated on the
14th or 15th of January by the Hindus in honour
of the Sun God. 'Pongal' in Tamil means boiling
over. After worshipping at a Hindu temple, a
large pot of rice is cooked in spicy, sweetened
milk and left to boil over. The direction of
the spilling will indicate good or bad luck
in the coming year. |
 |
Sinhala
and Tamil New Year- This holiday signifies the beginning
of the New Year for both Buddhists and Hindus. It
marks the completion of the solar circuit and is celebrated
around the second week of April. New clothes are worn
and horoscopes are foretold. Money is exchanged among
families and friends in a tradition known as 'ganu
denu'. Special food items and sweetmeats are prepared
and in the villages various New Year games are played.
It is a day spent in rituals and fun-filled activities.
This
full moon day is a day of great significance
to Buddhists throughout the world. It marks
the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of
the Buddha. Buddhist house in the Island are
decorated and illuminated with Vesak lanterns
and electric lamps. Colourful pandals with thousands
of electric jets throwing brilliant colour patterns
are erected in the City.
Temporary alms halls offer free meals to passers
by and several Buddhists visit places of worship
for religious observances. |
 |
This
day commemorates the introduction of Buddhism
to Sri Lanka. The main centres of celebration
on this day are Anuradhapura and Mihintale.
Processions are held in several parts of the
country to mark the visit of Arahat Mahinda
Thera who introduced Buddhism to the Island
nation. |
 |
This
is a month of religious celebrations in many
parts of the Island. Colourful processions are
held for several nights in Kandy, Kataragama,
Devinuvara and Kotte among several other places.
The biggest festival of all is the Festival
of the August Moon or Kandy Perahera held in
Kandy for ten nights. Vel festivals are also
held during this month at the Hindu shrines.
|
 |
Kataragama
in the far eastern corner of the Island is the
abode of God Skandha, the Warrior God. The main
event at Kataragama is the perahera or the procession
held for two weeks in July/August every year
culminating with an awe inspiring 'fire walking'
ceremony. |
 |
Fire
walking to propitiate the god is considered a sacred
duty by the devout followers. People from all parts
of the country come to Kataragama during the festival
season.
The Hindu festival held in honour of the War God Skandha
is held in Colombo in the month of July/August. The
main streets of the city take on a carnival atmosphere
for this festival. The colourful Vel chariot is drawn
in procession from the Sea Street temple to Bambalapitiya
temple and back.
This "festival of lights" is observed to
welcome Lakshmi the Godess of wealth and fortune into
Hindu homes which are gaily lit up with oil lamps
and lights. It is held at the end of October or at
the beginning of November. Oil lamps are lit to denote
the triumph of good over evil as it signifies the
Indian god king Rama's return from Sri Lanka. The
festival also welcomes Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
Adam's
Peak is the most sacred mountain in Sri Lanka. Pilgrims,
usually in groups, climb this steep mountain for various
religious activities. People of all faiths congregate
at this site to venerate the giant footprint found
at the summit, believed by each religion to be that
of Adam's, the Buddha's or Prophet Mohammed's. The
sunrise from the top of the mountain is an amazing
sight with the mountain's shadow cast onto the ground
below.
Muslims
festivals are held without much public display. They
join in prayer meetings to celebrate their religious
events. The main Muslim festivals are the Milad-un-Nabi
or the birth of the Prophet Mohamed in December, Id-ul-Fitr
festival when the holy fasting during the month of
Ramadan is ended and the Haj Festival when pilgrimages
to the holy shrine at Mecca are undertaken.
Festival in memory of Prophet Abraham's sacrifice.
At the conclusion of Hajj or holy pilgrimage. Celebrations
can last up to four days. Known as Kurban Bayram in
Turkish, Hari Raya Hajj in South East Asia and Tabaski
in parts of Africa.
The
tenth month of the Islamic calender is Shawwal.
In respect of the significance and importance
of Eid ul Fitr the following sayings should
be remembered. Hazrat Abu Hurrair
a (Radi Allahu Anh) reported that the messenger
of Allah Ta’ala, Hazrat Mohummed (Sall
Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "when the
eve of Eid ul Fitr comes, all the angels rejoice. |
 |
Allah
Almighty says: "Oh My Angels! What is the reward
of those labourers who have completed their task?"
The angels reply that they should be fully rewarded.
Milad-un
Nabi or Maulid (Mawlid) is the birthday celebration
of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and is celebrated
by Muslims as Eid-e Milad. Prophet Muhammad was born
Arabia in the city of Mecca on the 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal,
which was Monday the 20th day of April, 571 A.C. This
falls on Saturday May 25, 2002 and fell on June 4th
last year (2001). This is also his death anniversary.
The occasion is celebrated by remembering the favors
bestowed on the ummah (community), the first is the
revelation of the Holy Quran with its instructions,
the second, the institution of an Everliving Guide
who would advise the mu'mins (believers) according
to the needs of the time.
Christian
Festivals
Christmas and Easter are celebrated like in any other
part of the world by the Christian Community of Sri
Lanka.
The
main National Festival is the celebration of the traditional
New Year in April jointly by the two main ethnic groups
of Sri Lanka. The celebrations however assume different
styles with the Sinhala celebrations being more elaborate.
Although
the conventional New Year is celebrated in January,
the Sinhala New Year is marked by the entry
of the Sun from the zodiacal sign of Pisces
(the last sector) to Aries (the first sector)
and is celebrated in April (usually on 13th
or 14th of April) when the whole country assumes
an aura of festivity. |
 |
Traditional customs are observed at auspicious times
determined by the astrologers. Festivities continue
for about a week with New Year festivals in different
parts of the country and visiting friends and relations.
Hindu celebration of the New Year is confined to the
first day of the year and is over in a matter of hours.
Independence
Day celebrations on the 4th of February every
year commemorating the granting of independence
from British rule take the form of a national
festival with State participation. Celebrations
are held throughout the Island on this day. |
 |
Mayday
was a rite of passage custom that marked an
important seasonal transition in the year. Putting
a maypole up involved taking a growing tree
from the wood, and bringing it to the village
to mark the oncoming season of the summer. Mayday
used to be a period of great sexual licence. |
 |
People would go off into the woods to collect their
trees and green boughs, but once there, would enter
into all sorts of temporary sexual liaisons which
society did not normally accept.
A
blare of colour and a menageric of assorted
shapes and sizes make up this spectacular contest
held by the sea, in the heart of Colombo. |
 |
