Month by Month
January
At the peak of the tourist
season, when crowds are at
their largest, many popular
towns have special events
such as the fast-growing
literary festival at Galle.
z Duruthu Perahera
Held on the poya (full-
moon) day at the Kelaniya
Raja Maha Vihara in
Colombo, and second in
importance only to the huge
Kandy perahera (proces-
sion), this festival celebrates
the first of Buddha’s three
visits to Sri Lanka.
z Thai Pongal
Held in mid-January, this
Hindu winter-harvest fes-
tival honours the sun god
Surya. It is important to
Tamils in Sri Lanka and
South India. Look for the
special sweet dish, pongal,
which is made with rice,
nuts and spices.
February
The tourist crowds
continue with wintering
Europeans baking
themselves silly on the
beaches. A busy month for
Sri Lankans also, with an
important national holiday.
z Independence
Day
Sri Lanka gained independ-
ence on 4 February 1948
and this day is commemo-
rated every year with fes-
tivals, parades, fireworks,
sporting events and more
across the nation. In Co-
lombo, motorcades shuffle
politicians from one event
to the next.
z Navam Perahera
First celebrated in 1979,
Navam Perahera is one of
Sri Lanka’s biggest and
most flamboyant peraheras.
Held on the February poya,
it starts from Gangaramaya
Temple and travels around
Viharamahadevi Park and
Beira Lake in Colombo.
March
This is an important month
for many of Sri Lanka’s
Buddhists and you’ll see
them observing Maha
Sivarathri in the Ancient
Cities areas and portions
of the west coast where
they are in the majority.
z Maha Sivarathri
In late February or early
March the Hindu festival
of Maha Sivarathri com-
memorates the marriage
of Shiva to Parvati with
all-night vigils and more.
It’s the most important day
for Shaivites, who comprise
the majority of Sri Lanka’s
Hindus.
April
Although Christians
comprise only 6% of
Sri Lanka’s population,
secularised versions of
Christian holidays are
popular. Don’t be surprised
when you see an Easter
bunny at the mall.
z Aurudu (New
Year)
New Year’s Eve (13 April)
and New Year’s Day (14
April) are nonreligious
holidays. There is a period
between the old and new
year called the ‘neutral
period’; all activities are
meant to cease, although
buses and trains are
jammed.
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
TOP EVENTS
Duruthu Perahera,
January
Maha Sivarathri,
March
Aurudu (New Year),
April
Vesak Poya, May
Kandy Esala
Perahera, August
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