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Sri Lanka
Holidays & Festivals
2011
| Sri Lanka probably has more holidays than almost anywhere else in the world – Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and national festivals are celebrated. Every full moon day or ‘Poya Day’ is also a Buddhist holiday. On these days all public places of entertainment are closed and no alcohol is sold, although hotels usually make special arrangements for guests. |
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| January 15 | Tamil Thai Pongal Day |
| January 19 | Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day - Celebrates the Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka over 2500 years ago and attracts thousands of people to Kelaniya Temple. |
| February 4 | National Day - (Independence Day) |
| February 16 | Milad Un Nabi - Muslims celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. |
| February 17 | Navam Full Moon Poya Day - Navam Perahera is Colombo's grandest parade - a colourful festival including dancers, with elephants parading the streets of Colombo in the vicinity of the Gangaramaya Temple and lasts for two days. |
| March 2 | Maha Sivarathri Day |
| March 19 | Medin Full Moon Poya Day |
| April 13 | Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Eve - The Sinhalese and the Tamils celebrate the dawning of their traditional New Year. April marks the end of the harvest and start of the SW monsoon. This is the biggest celebration of the Buddhist year. Many Sri Lankans flee to Nuwara Eliya for parties and Horse racing. |
| April 14 | Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Day |
| April 17 | Bak Full Moon Poya Day |
| April 22 | Good Friday |
| April 24 | Easter Sunday |
| May 1 | May Day |
| May 17 | Vesak Full Moon Poya Day - Vesak Festival Commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, Vesak is the premier Buddhist religious festival in Sri Lanka. The entire country is lit up by the colourful lanterns and pandals. |
| May 18 | Adhi Vesak Full Moon Poya Day Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| June 15 | Poson Full Moon Poya Day - Commemorates the advent of Buddhism in the 3rd century B.C. |
| July 14 | Esala Full Moon Poya Day |
| Kataragama Festival - The city of Kataragama comes to life with the famous Esala Festivals. Thousands of devotees flock to Kataragama during this festival. | |
| Munneswaram - The Munneswaram shrine, 3 km from Chilaw, is a Hindu shrine dedicated to God Siva. A colourful temple festival with fire walking. | |
| Bellanwila Perahera - Held at the Rajamaha Vihara (Buddhist temple) at Bellanwila, South of Colombo, the Bellanwila Perahera is a colourful pageant. | |
| Dondra Perahera - 165 kilometres South of Colombo, is the shrine dedicated to God Vishnu at Dondra. Colourful peraheras featuring Kandyan and low country dancers. | |
| Kandy Esala Perahera (Esala Festival) -Sri Lanka’s most spectacular festival lasting 10 days (ends on Nikini Poya). This great procession, with elephants extravagantly decorated, Kandyan dancers and drummers, whip crackers, all in colourful costumes, honours the Sacred Tooth Relic. The best parades are during the final 3 days. Probably the most famous of all Sri Lankan cultural events. | |
| August 13 | Nikini Full Moon Poya Day |
| August 31 | Ramazan Festival Day |
| September 11 | Binari Full Moon Poya Day |
| October 11 | Vap Full Moon Poya Day |
| October 26 | Deepavali Festival - Hindu festival of lights. Thousands of flickering oil lamps celebrate the victory of good over evil and the return of Rama. |
| November 6 | Hadji Festival Day |
| November 10 | Il Full Moon Poya Day |
| December 10 | Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day - Commemorates the day the sapling under which Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka. |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
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| Copyright © 2011 Sri Lanka Exotic Holidays |
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