The best way to understand Sri Lankan culture is by attending a festival. Several festivals are held throughout the year, and here we have listed the top 10 must-visit cultural festivals in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, also regarded as the Indian Ocean pearl, is a famous tourist destination for many reasons, among them to experience the local’s unique culture. These cultural norms are showcased to the visitors through cultural festivals hosted throughout the year.
The amazing temples, handicrafts, colorful dances, and reverence for spirituality reflect the Sri Lankan cultural identity and are showcased during festivals celebrated throughout the year.
These festivals have been hosted for many years because they are important in Sri Lankan culture. Some of the festivals are meant to express the local religious devotion, remember historical events, and unite the communities.
During the festival celebration, all of them entail dancing to traditional music, grand processions, and rituals. No matter the background, these festivals bring everyone together.
In this blog, we have listed the 10 must-visit cultural festivals in Sri Lanka, and we will learn in-depth about the local culture and enjoy the celebrations with them.
There are different cultural festivals hosted in Sri Lanka throughout the year, and no matter when you are visiting this beautiful country, you can attend one of the festivals to understand the local culture. Continue reading this article to know when the festival is hosted and where.
The Esala Perahera festival, also called Kandy Perahera, is hosted in honor of the sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. It is a huge religious and cultural festival.
This festival is celebrated for 10 nights, and during this time there are elephant decorations, dancing to transitional music, fire performances, and cracking whips. Those participating in the celebration parade through the streets and display artistry and devotion.
The main highlight of this festival is when the tusker carries the golden casket, which symbolizes the Tooth Relic. It is an amazing procession that is attended by tourists, pilgrims, and devotees. The procession has been carried out for many years, and it blends religious reverence.
Location: Kandy
Time: July/August
Locally, this festival is called Aluth Avurudda and Puthandu. The local host has this festival to celebrate the beginning of the traditional solar year.
The symbolism of this festival is unity, prosperity, and ending the old to mark the new one. Those deeply rooted in this festival are Sri Lanka’s agrarian society.
During the celebration, families indulge in customs such as lighting the hearth at an auspicious time, preparing traditional sweetmeats, and giving gifts. The celebration brings laughter into many homes while communities join together.
Location:Nationwide
Time: April 13–14
Vesak festival is the most important and sacred Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. This festival is celebrated to remember the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
When making the celebration, you have to show acts of kindness and deep spiritual reflection. Devotees during the celebration meditate, pray, and do charity work.
During the festival, cities and villages transform through the magical combination of grand illuminations and colorful Vesak lanterns known as Vesak koodu, which decorate both homes and streets and temples.
Prominent ceremonies take place at temples while Dansal (free food stalls) allow devotees to distribute refreshments and meals to all visitors. You can attend this festival to hear the Buddhist teachings that are hosted across the country through storytelling performances and religious plays.
Location: Nationwide
Time: May (Full Moon Poya Day)
Poson Festival is a celebration to mark the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 247 BCE by son of Emperor Ashoka of India, Mahinda Thero. This festival is important for the Buddhists.
The celebration center is Mihintale. It is regarded as a sacred mountain believed to be where Mahinda Thero preached the Buddhist doctrine to King Devanampiya Tissa.
During these festival celebrations, pilgrims at Anuradhapura and Mihintale wearing white clothes gather and observe different religious practices like almsgiving, chanting, and meditation.
Also during this festival celebration, there are Dansal and lantern displays meant to make celebrations visually appealing for the visitors and spiritually uplifting.
Location: Primarily in Anuradhapura and Mihintale
Time: June (Poson Poya Day)
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Festival is celebrated to honor Lord Murugan. It is an important Hindu festival in the Northern Province. The festival is celebrated for 25 days, and at the temple, there is a huge chariot procession, elaborate rituals, and devotional music.
The major highlight of this festival is marked when the devoted carry a massive wooden chariot of a deity through the streets. Many Tamil Hindu devotees during the festival engage in different ceremonial practices like fasting and vows.
Visitors attend this festival to learn about the Hindu traditional customs and experience religious devotion. This is the devotion that makes Jaffna’s cultural identity stand out.
Location: Jaffna
Time: August
The Kataragama Festival is hosted in southern Sri Lanka at the sacred shrine of Lord Skanda. This festival is a multi-religious celebration attended by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and indigenous Vedda communities. The festival's aim is to seek divine intervention and blessings.
The festival highlight is where Hindu devotees perform rituals like body piercing and fire walking. The rituals are meant to showcase their faith and devotion.
Other highlights are traditional drumming, grand processions, and giving offerings at the temple.
Location: Kataragama
Time: July/August
Deepavali, also called the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu celebration symbolizing overcoming the darkness. During the celebrations, families practice various customs, including bursting firecrackers, illuminating oil lamps, and cooking traditional delicious Tamil dishes.
Hindus visit their relatives and friends and exchange sweets. Also attend the special prayer ceremonies held at the Hindu temples. This festival is mostly held in Jaffna and Colombo’s Tamil neighborhoods.
Location: Tamil-dominated regions (Jaffna, Colombo, Eastern Province)
Time: October/November
The Duruthu Perahera festival is held to mark when the Buddha first visited Sri Lanka. The celebrations are marked with a grand procession at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara.
Another highlight of this festival is beautifully adorned elephants, drummers, and traditional dancers. This showcases the Buddhist faith and tradition norms.
This festival marks the start of all religious events for the year while providing visitors the opportunity to observe unique cultural performances near Colombo city.
Location: Kelaniya Temple (near Colombo)
Time: January (Duruthu Poya)
The Madhu Church Festival is the major Christian pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. This festival is attended by thousands of Catholic devotees.
The center of this festival is Our Lady of Madhu Shrine, where players are held, celebration and healing. When celebrating this festival, pilgrims seek blessings, conduct mass, and practice other religious beliefs.
This festival is important to the Christian community in Sri Lanka, and during the celebration, there is a peaceful and deeply spiritual atmosphere.
Location: Mannar
Time: August
The Vel Festival is an important Hindu procession to honor Lord Murugan. The highlight of this festival is where the chariots carry the sacred Vel (spear of Murugan) in the streets. Accompanying the procession are drummers, dancers, and devotees to showcase their faith.
If you are visiting Colombo in July/August, you should attend this festival for a memorable cultural experience. The celebrations are vibrant and energetic.
This festival is important to the Christian community in Sri Lanka, and during the celebration, there is a peaceful and deeply spiritual atmosphere.
Location: Colombo and Tamil-majority areas
Time: July/August
All the festivals held in Sri Lanka showcase religious diversity, rich history, and traditions. Each festival is unique and offers visitors a glimpse into Sri Lankan society.
These festivals have been hosted for years because they preserve old customs and unite the communities in harmony and faith. Attending any of the 10 must-visit cultural festivals in Sri Lanka will get you an unforgettable firsthand experience of Sri Lanka's cultural essence.
You should dress modestly when attending the festival to respect the local customs. You should also adhere to the guidelines when entering religious sites, like removing footwear when entering a temple.
