SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR: This is the auspicious festival which is celebrated with generosity and which further showcases the culture’s vibrant side. It takes place in mid-April to depict the mark of the end of harvest season and spring. It is a myriad of experience. Several people come together and enjoy this event. People enjoy meals together, give gifts to enjoy the event, clean their houses and decorate it with outstanding Rangoli to express their happiness.
VESAK POYA: It is the festival related to Lord Buddha’s life. The Lord lived 30 years of his life there only. It is the most prominent event celebrated by the entire country. There are huge processions that move through the cities. Cities like Colombo celebrate this festival with lightning and inviting positive waves in their life. People make tiny lamps of mud, go to the temple and fix them in front of Lord Buddha’s sculpture to seek his blessings.
POSON : Also known as Poson Paya, this is the second most important festival celebrated in Sri Lanka by the Buddhist community. Since it commemorates the advent of Buddhism in the island in the 3rd century, Poson Festival holds great historical significance too. Just like the Vesak festival, the celebrations include decorations in the form of lanterns, pandals, and setting up of alms-stalls across the island in the true spirit of the Buddhist traditions and teachings. The grandest festivities are in and around Mihintale rock outcrop where Buddha’s disciple Mahinda first preached Buddhist doctrines to King
Devanampiyatissa.
DURUTHUR PERAHERA: It is the festival which is characterized by grand processions in the month of January. The festival is marked by people giving gifts to their relatives, enjoying meals and buying new things for their homes. Elephants are covered with shinny jewels which grab the attention of the audience from a distance. People all across Sri Lanka witness this event.
