Sri Lanka Festivals

sri lanka festivals
sri lanka festivals
sri lanka festivals

Sri Lanka Festivals is known for its vibrant and diverse festivals, which reflect the island’s rich cultural, religious, and historical heritage. These festivals are celebrated with much enthusiasm and are integral to the social and cultural life of the country.

Day Tours to Main Cultural Sites

There are many Cultural Heritage sites to see Sri Lanka Festivals. Most famous places are Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Sigiriya.

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1. Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudda)

  • When: April 13th-14th
  • Religion: Celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus
  • Overview: The Sinhala and Tamil New Year marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year according to the traditional solar calendar. It’s a time for family gatherings, rituals, and various customs. The New Year is celebrated with the lighting of the hearth, preparation of special foods like kiribath (milk rice), exchange of gifts, and engaging in traditional games. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and the first meal is taken at an auspicious time, followed by visiting family and friends.

2. Vesak

  • When: Full moon day in May
  • Religion: Buddhism
  • Overview: Vesak is the most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha. The entire country is decorated with lanterns, lights, and pandals (decorative gateways), and devotees visit temples to participate in religious activities, such as offering flowers, lighting oil lamps, and meditating. Dana (almsgiving) stalls, known as Dansalas, are set up to offer free food and drinks to all.

3. Poson

  • When: Full moon day in June
  • Religion: Buddhism
  • Overview: Poson commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by the Indian missionary Mahinda Thera in the 3rd century BCE. The main celebrations take place in Anuradhapura and Mihintale, where large crowds gather for religious observances. Like Vesak, Poson is marked by the decoration of homes and public places, almsgiving, and temple visits.

4. Deepavali

  • When: October/November
  • Religion: Hinduism
  • Overview: Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Sri Lankan Tamils and other Hindu communities. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes are cleaned, decorated with oil lamps, and rangoli (colorful patterns) are created at entrances. Families exchange sweets and gifts, and prayers are offered to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

5. Thai Pongal

  • When: January 14th
  • Religion: Hinduism
  • Overview: Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. It is a thanksgiving ceremony in which farmers pay homage to the sun god Surya for a bountiful harvest. The festival lasts for four days, with the second day, known as Thai Pongal, being the most important. Special dishes are prepared, particularly the sweet dish called Pongal, made from newly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery. Homes are decorated, and people wear new clothes.

6. Christmas

  • When: December 25th
  • Religion: Christianity
  • Overview: Christmas is celebrated with much joy and festivity by Christians in Sri Lanka, particularly among the Roman Catholic and Protestant communities. The season is marked by midnight masses, carol singing, decorating homes and churches with Christmas trees and lights, and the exchange of gifts. The Burgher community has unique traditions, including preparing special foods like Breudher (a type of cake) and Lamprais.

7. Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

  • When: Varies according to the Islamic lunar calendar
  • Religion: Islam
  • Overview: Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for Muslims, observed by abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset. It is a time of spiritual reflection, prayer, and community. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, a festival that begins with a special prayer at the mosque, followed by feasting, giving Zakat (charity), and celebrating with family and friends.

8. Kandy Esala Perahera

  • When: July/August
  • Religion: Buddhism
  • Overview: The Kandy Esala Perahera is one of the most spectacular religious festivals in Sri Lanka, held in honor of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. The festival features a grand procession with decorated elephants, traditional dancers, drummers, and torchbearers. The Perahera parades through the streets of Kandy for ten days, culminating in a final night of grandeur. The festival also involves religious rituals at the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa).

9. Vel Festival

  • When: July/August
  • Religion: Hinduism
  • Overview: The Vel Festival is a major Hindu festival in Colombo, dedicated to the war god Murugan. The highlight of the festival is the grand procession of the sacred Vel (a spear associated with Murugan) through the streets of Colombo, accompanied by devotees, musicians, and dancers. The festival is a vibrant and colorful event that attracts large crowds, both locals and tourists.

10. Maha Shivaratri

  • When: February/March
  • Religion: Hinduism
  • Overview: Maha Shivaratri, meaning “Great Night of Shiva,” is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fasting, night-long vigils, and offer prayers and milk to Shiva Lingams in temples. The festival is particularly important to the Tamil Hindu community, with celebrations at major temples like the Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee and Munneswaram Temple in Chilaw.

11. Kataragama Esala Festival

  • When: July/August
  • Religion: Multi-religious (Hinduism, Buddhism, and indigenous beliefs)
  • Overview: The Kataragama Esala Festival is a multi-religious festival held in Kataragama, a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, and the indigenous Veddas. The festival features elaborate processions, fire-walking, body piercing, and other acts of devotion. Devotees from various religious backgrounds participate, making it a unique expression of Sri Lanka’s religious diversity.

12. Nallur Festival

  • When: August
  • Religion: Hinduism
  • Overview: The Nallur Festival is one of the longest and most important Hindu festivals in Sri Lanka, held at the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna. The festival lasts for 25 days, featuring daily poojas, processions, and various religious activities. The festival culminates in the Ther Thiruvila (chariot festival), where a beautifully decorated chariot carrying the deity is pulled through the streets by devotees.

Day Tour Price to Cultural Sites

  • Transport Cost for Anuradhapura USD 95 – Polonnaruwa USD 95 – Sigiriya USD 70  per private tour in an A/C car or van with an English speaking chauffeur-guide
    Vehicle Options:
    Car (up to 2 persons): Toyota Axio, Prius Hybrid, Premio/Honda Fit Shuttle or similar
    Van (3 to 6 persons): Toyota KDH/Nissan Caravan or similar

  • Entrance ticket fee for Anuradhapura/Polonnaruwa/Sigiriya Sri Lanka – Ticket price for each place US$ 35 / EUR 31 / GBP 26) per foreign adult and US$ 17 / EUR 16 / GBP 13 ticket price per foreign child of age 05 – 12 years are applicable.
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