Sri Lanka a lovely island nation is blessed with many different festivals through certain year. While it's true that they are predominantly religious based, they may be wonderful to watch and be involved in.
Christmas gifts to Sri LankaSince most of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, most festivals are dependant on Buddhism. As Christmas is always to the Christians, Wesak is to the Buddhists. Celebrated in May, it signifies the afternoon Lord Buddha was created, attained Buddha hood, as Guatama Buddha and day he passed away. While gonna temple, observing sil - a type of quiet contemplation, is done during Wesak, the highlight with the festival coming from a visitor's point of view is the place the full island comes alight at night, with paper lanterns created particularly for the festival.
Traffic comes to a virtual standstill as main roads and by-roads become impromptu lantern exhibitions. Creations usually range from the simple, towards the very elaborate as people vie to outdo each other. It's a sight to behold and worthy of experiencing, with many Sri Lanka hotels lightening up to the occasion.
Gifts to JaffnaAnother interesting festival in Sri Lanka will be the celebration of the Sinhala Tamil Year, known simply as Avurudu, locked in April. It is locked in April because it is a time of prosperity for your predominantly agricultural nation, an occasion when the harvest is collected. A very traditional Avurudu celebration would entail the eating of kiribath (milk rice) along with other sweetmeats in the given auspicious time by loved ones, then they exchange money to take prosperity for the upcoming year. People take part in traditional games and the playing of drums or rabbana. The hotels in Sri Lanka have particular events organized to celebrate Avurudu where guests will take part inside the rituals and food.
For Sri Lankans full moon days hold special religious value and are usually holidays. Duruthu poya is in January and marks the first visit of Buddha to Sri Lanka. A perahera, which is uniquely symbolic of Sri Lanka is kept in Kelaniya, about 10 km not in the capital Colombo. This perahera or pageant is often a colourful event with traditional dancers and richly adorned elephants certain to captivate and enthral the senses.
Tamil new year Sri LankaPoson poya falls in June annually which is marked as the day Buddhism was introduced to the continent. Mihintale and Anuradhapura would be the places to get with this season.
The famous Kandy perahara is definitely an experience not to be missed. It can be locked in August during Esala full moon, so the perahara is additionally known as the Kandy Esala perahera. The main attraction is the Dalada Maligawa Tooth relic. Sri Lanka hotels are chock full of tourists and native visitors during this time period and usually help organize tickets as well as other essentials to the event.
Hinduism has been so integrated inside the Sri Lankan culture that you find Hindu gods at Buddhist temples along with the Kataragama devale is the best melting pot of the two. Hindu devotees visit seeking the protection of the God Skanda to whom the devale is dedicated. Buddhists visit Kiri Vehera stupa from the devale premises, considered among the sixteen places visited in Sri Lanka by Buddha. Visit before the Kataragama festival and be privileged to witness the Hindu devotees fulfilling vows with fire walking and piercings. A rarer sight would have been a devotee hung from your scaffolding by hooks.
Christmas too is well known in Sri Lanka with a grand scale while using Sri Lanka hotels giving guests an authentic Christmas overseas. The administrative centre especially seems all its finery in honour in the birth of Christ.