Religious Events

Kandy Esala Perahera

The Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka, featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. This is held in Esala (July or August) which is the month that is believed to commemorate the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment.

Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) Pilgimage Season

The amazing Adam’s Peak is Sri Lanka’s fourth highest mountain at 2244m and is located 40km northeast of Ratnapura.

Vesak Festival

Vesak is a religious and cultural festival in Sri Lanka. It is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of May. Vesak Day is one of the biggest days of the year and is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this day.

Poson Festival

Poson full-moon poya day (Poson Poya Day/Poson Festival) is celebrated the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, a festival of great historical and religious significance celebrated island-wide by Buddhists. Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates the occasion over 2,000 years ago when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.

Kataragama Esala Festival

Kataragama hums with activity at the time of Poojas (offerings or prayers). Devotees laden with offerings move lightly, barefoot, up the temple steps. From inside comes the sharp sound of breaking coconuts as worshippers begin their devotions.

Diwali Celebrations

Diwali or Deepavali is one of the grandest festivals in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated by Hindu devotees throughout the island by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Diwali simply means ‘festival of lights’ but its deep meaning is the awareness of the inner light.

Ramadan Festival

Ramadan brings out a special feeling of emotional excitement and religious zeal among Muslims of all ages. It is one of the holiest months for Muslims. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is expected to begin on or around August 1, 2011 and will finish on or around August 29, 2011, and will continue for 29 or 30 days. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

Christmas Celebrations

Christmas is annually celebrated in a grand scale across the island. Preparation for this great day begins weeks before as in other countries. The festive sound of firecrackers waking you up at the dawn of December 1st is the first intimation that Christmas is round the corner.

Duruthu Poya

Duruthu Poya celebrates Gautama Buddha’s momentous first visit to Sri Lanka twenty five centuries ago and marks the country’s initiation to the teachings of Buddhism…

Navam Poya

Navam Poya. One is the appointment of the Buddha’s two chief disciples Sariputta and Moggallana. It is said that Sariputta was appointed “Dharmasenadipathi” while Moggallana was named “Dharmapurohita”…

Medin Poya

Medin poya is the day when Buddha visited his father King Suddodhana for the first time as the “Samma Sambuddha” (Fully Enlightened One). Medin Poya falls in March…

Bak Poya

Bak Poya (Bak Pura Pasaloswaka Poya Day) which falls in the month of April marks Lord Buddha’s visit to Nagadipa. This was his second visit to Sri Lanka after Enlightenment...

Vesak Poya

The Vesak Full Moon Poya Day is the most important Poya for Buddhists across the world as it commemorates the most eclectic event in the history of Buddhism...

Poson Poya

It was on a Poson Full Moon Poya day in the 3rd century B.C that Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka who had become a Buddhist monk. This momentous event occurred in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s North Central Provice, which has since then become the focus of Poson Poya religious observances each year.