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Culture
Sri Lankans are friendly and smiling people . Religion
and social l activity are strongly embedded in the
culture. Sri Lankans has a multitude of colorful
festivals of various communities throughout the year.
Poya Days
Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country and most of its
festivals are based on the lunar calendar. Every full
moon day, also known as 'Poya day ' is a holiday for
Srilankans . The Lord Buddha preached to his followers
the importance of spiritual practices during the full
moon day and Sri Lankan Buddhists spend these days in
meditation and prayers. Each Poya day is related to an
incident in the life of the Buddha or to a historic
Buddhist event
January (Duruthu)
The month of January in Singhalese calendar called as
Duruthu. The Duruthu Perahara is conducted in this month
at Kanalniya Temple. This celebration commemorate the
first visit of Lord Buddha to Srilanka.
Thai
Pongal is a festival celebrated by Hindu community in
Srilanka on the 14th or 15th of January . This festival
is basically to honor 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.
February (Navam)
National Day is celebrated on the 4th of February. It
commemorates the day Sri Lanka gained independence from
Britain in 1948.Cultural festival Navam Perahera is
conducted on the full moon day in February. This
festival is held in Colombo.
March (Medhin)
Easter- This is celebrated by Christians in Srilanka.
April (Bak)
Sinhala and Tamil New Year- This holiday signifies the
beginning of the New Year for both Buddhists and Hindus.
This is celebrated in grand scale and indicates the
completion of the solar circuit and is celebrated around
the second week of April.
Srilankns wear new clothes on this day and horoscopes
are foretold. Money is exchanged among families and
friends on auspicious time 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 fun-filled activities.
May (Vesak)
Vesak - Buddhists honor the birth, enlightenment and
death of Lord Buddha on the full moon day in May.
Buddhists visit temples with flowers and offerings. In
addition to the religious activities it is also a
festival of light and color. Buddhist houses are
decorated with oil lamps and paper lanterns known as
'Vesak Buckets'. Large pandols which explain Lord
Buddha's life are erected throughout the country along
with puppet shows and open-air theatre performances. As
Buddhists are encouraged to offer prepared food and
drinks for poor Every where you will see booths or
'dansals' offering free food and drinks.
June (Poson)
Poson is well celebrated in the town of Mihintale, in
the central region of the Island, As this is the place
where Buddhism was introduced to Srilanka in the 02nd
century B.C by Mahinda the son of Emperor Asoka in
India.
July (Nikini)/August (Binara)
Famous 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 grand
procession on the streets in Indy city that includes
decorated elephants temple , acrobats, drummers,
trumpeters, pipers, traditional dancers, torchbearers,
and whip-crackers. This festival, which has been
described as the "most spectacular event in Asia..
Vel
is a Hindu festival held in Colombo in July or August to
venerate the God of War. A gold painted chariot,
containing weapons of this fierce god is carried in a
procession .
Kataragama, a town in the south of the island attracts
pilgrims from every part of the country. This is a
popular pilgrim station in Silence. This specialty of
Kataragama is all communities in Srilanka participates
for the festival . The temple 'Kataragama Devale' is a
very important place for Buddhists and Hindus. Devotees
make or fulfill pledges during this period, in return
for various favors from 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 tongues.
October (Vap)/ November (il)
Deepavali is the Hindu festival Deepavali means lights.
It is held at the end of October or at the beginning of
November. Oil lamps are lit to denote the good over evil
as it signifies the Indian god king Rama's return from
Sri Lanka. The festival also honor Lakshmi, the goddess
of prosperity.
December (Unduvap)
Christmas Day - the celebration of the birth of Jesus
Christ.
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