z Deepavali
The Hindu festival of
lights takes place in late
October or early November.
Thousands of flickering
oil lamps celebrate the tri-
umph of good over evil and
the return of Rama after
his period of exile.December
Sri Lanka’s second annual
monsoon season, the
Maha, brings huge rains to
the northeast part of the
island.z Adam’s Peak
The pilgrimage season,
when pilgrims of all faiths
(and the odd tourist) climb
Adam’s Peak near Ella,
starts in December and
lasts until mid-April. The
trek begins shortly after
midnight so that everyone
can be in place for sunrise.z Unduvap Poya
This full-moon day com-
memorates Sangamitta,
who brought a cutting
from the sacred Bodhi Tree
in India in 288 BC to Anu-
radhapura. The resulting
tree, the Sri Maha Bodhi,
is considered the oldest
living human-planted tree
in the world. The ceremo-
nies attract thousands in
their finest.z Christmas
Outside of Sri Lanka’s
Christian communities –
mostly around Colombo –
this day has become a
popular secularised holiday.
Ersatz versions of Western
Christmas traditions can
be found across the nation,
from bone-thin Santas in
strange masks to garish
artificial trees.KEVIN CLOGSTOUN / GETTY IMAGES ©CHRISTER FREDRIKSSON / GETTY IMAGES ©Top: Nallur festival (p267), Jaffna
Bottom: Pilgrims, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (p145), KandyPLAN YOUR TRIP
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