KelaniyaDuruthuPeraherathat started in1927, is a colorful event held on January at DuruthuPova. This event is held in the most sacred temple, Kelaniya Raja MahaVihara, in the Western province where Buddha visited during his third visit Sri Lanka. It not only commemorates his visit but also acts as a platform to showcase the cultural traditions of the people such as dancing, singing, drumming, and caparisoning elephants and marching of colorful bands.In western Province of Sri Lanka, Kelaniya Raja MahaViharaya remains the most popular and scared temple since the Buddha's stay amid of his third visit to Sri Lanka. The press release also affirmed that this religious social exhibition has advanced throughout the years to turn into the nation's most stupendous pageant.
On the 4th February, 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from the BritishEmpire. This day is commemorated year after year with magnificent pomp pageantry to solidify the spirit of patriotism in every corner of the street throughout the island. The day kicks off with the hoisting of the flag, singing of the national anthem follow suite, traditional lamps are light. Processions begin graced by all kind of performances including methodically harmonized military parades, canons firing and all kind of cultural and religious performances to pay tribute to the forefathers for their restlessness towards attaining the cherished sovereignty and the perpetual unity of the citizens.
This festival borrows a lot from the Kandy-Perahera-festival in Colombo. It encompasses about hundred elephants, over five thousand performers with acrobats,torch bearers,dancers, drummers and others.The NawamMahaPerahera is formally initiated when the consecrated relics are always paraded in an overlaid coffin set on a lofty tusker. Additionally, it is exquisitely caparisoned and strolls smoothly in the midst of the hive of action. The Sri Lanka celebration visits incorporate different highlights of the larger Sri Lanka with its bunch of attractions.
It is also known as Hatton Adam’s peak or Samanala Kanda or Butterfly Mountain, and its peak has in impressions which Buddhists believe to be the footprint of Buddha. It is the fourth highest mountain in Sri Lanka (2244km) stretching 40km northeast of Ratnapura City, a city that is just 94km from Colombo. A hike to this great mountain takes about 4-5 hours. This place was highly recognized as a world’s heritage site in 2011 as it is surrounded by a rich biodiversity and Peak Wilderness Sanctuary made of Central highlands of Sri Lanka, Horton Plains National park and Knuckles Range.
According to astrology, we as the Sri Lankans used to celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year annually during the transition period when the sun was moving from the house of Pisces to Aries in the celestial.This special occasion commences on 13th and 14th April (Bak/Bhaga) when the sun is at equinox as our country is located near the equator. It is considered a prosperous period as rice harvesting has already occurred and this period is robust with AvuruduKema (enjoying food) as the locals call it. Our food has a close relationship to the housewife, so mothers are given a special role during this celebration and assisted in all household chores. After the dawn of the New Year the first activity is always to light a fireplace according to auspicious time and boiling rice milk already harvested from the paddy. People believe that through these rituals would shield them from hunger strike.
Vesak takes place on May, every year. According to Sri Lankans, Wesak Full Moon is officially regarded as a cultural as well as religious festival. The day when the moon is shown fully is when the festival is held across all countries of Asia. The participants cerebrate three prominent happenings which occurred in Gautama Buddha’s life. Firstly, Vesak cerebrates the birthday of Gautama in a place called Lumbini in the city of Nepal. He was born by Queen Mahamaya under Sat tress. Secondly, the festivals cerebrates Buddha’s enlightment and finally, they are meant to cerebrate their Lord, Buddha’s Paranibbana who has been leading them for over two thousand five hundred years ago at a place called Kusinaga.Vesak is preceded by other special religious activities across all regions in Sri Lanka. Such activities include Bodhi Poojas, Sil Campaigns, Dansalas where there is free provision of teat, coffee and other foods. In addition, there is Pandols, lanterns and Vesak devotional songs originally known as Bakthi Gee.
Poson Poya Day or the Poson Festival held on the full moon day of June, mainly at Mihintale is a vital celebration. It commemorates the occasion that occurred about 2,000 years ago. This is the time when, Mahinda Arahat who is an Indian’s Emperor Asoka’s son was born. Equally, he facilitated Sri Lanka’s King Devanampiyatissa’s conversion to Buddhism at an ancient capital Anuradhapura, where many people met for Pilgrims. Many religious activities such as Sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas andPoson devotional songs are organized during this festival. Other includePosonpandols and Poson lanterns that are making Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.
This festival is highly active at the time of Poojas (offerings and prayers) in Kataragama temple dedicated to Skanda. His disciples loaded with offerings move lightly, barefoot, up the temple steps and into the temple where they break coconuts as they start their devotion. People stand calmly holding their red garlands decorated plates, heaped with fruits and flowers made purely forSkanda, who is the son of Shiva and the god of both wisdom and war. It is understood that Skanda rested on the mountain of Kataragama after defeating the army of demons. An elephant colors the occasion when it makes its way through the northern gate and into the temple and across the courtyard to the first three shrines holding a single lotus flower on it trunk. The mahout taps the elephant gently on its shoulder and it kneels and places the lotus before the statue of Buddha. The elephant then heaves itself off its knees and turns to the next shrine which is dedicated to god Ganesh.
Diwali or Deepavaliremains the most stupendous celebrations in the Hindu logbook and is praised by Hindu enthusiasts all through the island by performing customary exercises together in their homes. Diwali essentially signifies 'celebration of lights' yet its profound significance is the attention to the inward light. The celebration of Diwali holds an uncommon hugeness to the Hindus here as Sri Lanka is identified with the well known epic of Ramayana which is behind the Diwali. Attributable to an expansive number of Tamil occupants in the nation, Diwali festivities are essentially like the festivals in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. Like in India, Lakshmi, the goddess of riches, is venerated, houses are lit up with conventional earthen lights, and individuals appreciate extravagant customary indulgences and set off fireworks.
Christmas is yearly celebrated in a fantastic scale over the island. Readiness for this incredible day starts weeks before as in different nations. The happy sound of fireworks awakening you at the beginning of December first is the first insinuation that Christmas is round the corner. It is commended by Christians and shared even by non-Christians in genuine Sri Lankan style.The 25th of December, the remembrance of the conception day of Jesus is an open and religious occasion. On 24th night of December, all members of churches such as Chapels, Catherdrals and Pentecostal churches are expected to attend Mid Night Mass together with their lovers and siblings. The lover joyfully joins their fellowmen to celebrate the union
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