july 2718-28 JULY
JULY 11–
Mongolia
This festival is hundreds of years old and honours the militar y
traditions of Mongolia, the bir thplace of the legendar y
conqueror Genghis Khan. In the past, spor ts competitions
were often a par t of militar y parades. Today, they are the
main event! Athletes prepare all year to compete in wrestling,
horse racing and archer y. After a full day of spor ts, there’s
a big par ty with lots of food and drink. People also brew a
special beverage made of horse milk just for the occasion!Sri Lanka
The people of Sri Lanka hold this festival to ask the gods
for rain and to celebrate the arrival of the sacred tooth of
Buddha from India in the 4th centur y. A parade, known
as the Perahera, is filled with per formances by dancers,
jugglers, fire-breathers and musicians! People walk alongside
giant elephants that are decorated with bright fabrics and
jewels. A replica of the Buddha’s tooth is carried by one
of these elephants through the crowd as thousands of
people celebrate.Armenia
This ancient water festival began as a way to honour Astghik,
the Armenian goddess of love and water. Legend has it that
Asthik spread love around the countr y when she poured
rosewater from the sky. In the past, the day used to be about
celebrating the goddess, but as Christianity spread to the
countr y, it was combined with the festivities of Easter. This day,
people come together to splash each other with buckets of
water, which also cools them in the summer heat!NAADAM
KANDY ESALA PERAHERA
VARDAVAR
77
No.49 Issue 3