Why Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka which is also known as 'The Pearl of the Indian Ocean is a beautiful tropical island located off the Southern coast of India. This island offers a plethora of options for tourists among them beautiful beach destinations, favourable climate,rich cultural heritage, tea estates, coconut grooves, national parks, and wildlife.
The beach destinations such as Mirissa, Medakatiya beach, Arugam bay, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, and Unawatuna have great waves for surfing, and waters teeming with marine life, from turtles to big blue whales. Onthese beaches, you not only can spend your day diving, having delicious food from beachside restaurants, and also zooming around by motorbikes.
This beautiful island has a good reputation for hospitality as well. The people in this small island are also called 'the nations of smiling People' because they are smilers and they all see themselves as hosts.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), there are 156 classified tourist hotels and 239 unclassified tourist hotels in Sri Lanka. Additionally, there are 36 boutique hotels, 46 boutique villas, and 493 bungalows in the country.
This paradise is also blessed with green hills, cascading waterfalls, and a riot of flowers and fruits. As Sri Lanka is well known for its high level of biodiversity and wildlife you even can visit to see the animals which are endangered.
Festivals in Sri Lanka
Colorful festivals are the most prominent feature of Sri Lanka and it is one of the major tourist attractions. Sri Lankans celebrate various festivals throughout the year and it's so interesting. Some of those festivals are
Vesak festival
Sinhala and Tamil Year
Kandy Esala Perahera
Maha Shiva Rathri
Nallur festival
Vesak festival
Vesak festival is the main Buddhist religious festival that celebrates in May or early June in Sri Lanka. Buddhists celebrate Lord Buddha's birth, Enlightenment, and Buddha's passing away into Nirvana in this festival. During this time, people engage more time in religious activities, making Vesak lanterns and decorating everywhere with light bulbs, colorful buckets, and lanterns. Not only they are making pandals that describe Buddha's life story but also arranging 'Dansal' which are roadside stalls that distribute free refreshments. Many of the people go to the temple and observe sil and celebrate this festival peacefully.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Sinhala and Tamil New Year, generally known as AluthAvurudda is celebrated by most of Sri Lankans especially Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka. According to astrology, New Year begins when the sun moves from Pisces (MeenaRashiya) to Aries. ( MeshaRashiya) At this time of the year, trees are covered with colorful flowers. Especially the erabadu which is a beautiful red flower that blooms during this time. And throughout the month the bird Koha (Asian Koel) sings from trees and it's a thing that only can see during this New Year time. During this festive season, people clean and repaint their houses, buy new clothes for family members and prepare mouthwatering traditional sweetmeats to their home villages to celebrate the new year with their big families.
During the inauspicious time, people go to the temple and engage in religious activities. And when the auspicious time arrives people welcome the new year bythe lighting of hearth and boiling fresh milk in a new clay pot. Then they make milk rice and decorate the whole new year table with traditional sweetmeats. Kavum, Konda kavum, Kokis, Aluva, Athirasa and Aasmi are some of the traditional sweetmeats that can see on a new year table. And then start business transactions for the new year, seeking blessings for success. And children play avurudu fun games such as tug-of-war and pillow fighting. Some people organize an event called 'avuruduuthsawaya' which is full of fun games and activities. This festival is a well-celebrated cultural festival that brings all Sri Lankans together in manyparts of the world.
Kandy Esala Perahera
The Kandy Esala Perahera which is also known as the Kandy Dalada Perahera is a magnificent Buddhist festival for Buddhists all over the world. This historic procession is held annually in the months of July and August to pay homage to the Sacred of the Tooth Relic. Kandy gets into a festive mood to celebrate this beautiful cultural festival during this time. People celebrate the whole Kandy city with colorful bulbs and those lights burn throughout the night. The dance forms Ves, Udekki, Pantheru, Naiyandi, Hewisi, Savang, and Leekeli, and the dancers add beauty to the Perahera. A herd of elephants with colorful costumes is also used in the Perahera to honor Buddha. One of the elephants carries the casket with the Buddhist’s Tooth Relic on its head and it is one of the majestic moments everyone can experience by visiting the Perahera.
Maha Shivaratri Festival
Maha Shivaratri or Padmarajaratri is a festival that is celebrated by Hindu devotees all over the world to pay homage to Lord Shiva and seek blessings for salvation. It takes place just before the arrival of spring, usually in February or March, and according to the Hindu calendar it is in the month of Falgun, the last month of the year.
During this festival, Hindus fast and offer the prayer throughout the day and night and engage in various cultural activities. Hindus hardly believe that the blessings of Lord Shiva will help to achieve social and economic prosperity and good health. Shivaratri which means 'the Great Night of Shiva is kind of special because this is celebrated at night. Hindus clad in clean garments carry clay pots of water and bathe the Shiva Linga in the temple with water, milk, and honey which represent the purification of the soul.
Nallur Festival
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple festival is a twenty-five days long commemoration, which is recognized as Sri Lanka's longest holy festival. This is usually celebrated in August or September depending on the Hindu calendar. This festival is held in the Nallur Kandaswamy temple which is one of the most significant Hindu temples in Jaffna. By celebrating this festival, Hindus commemorate to worship of Lord Murugan, goddess Valli, and Deivanai.
The first 10 days of the festival commenced with the flag hoisting ceremony and the next 9 days take place around the Kandaswamy temple on the 10 th day the Mancham festival will be held. This colorful spectacular brings together thousands of devotees and this festival is always magnificent.
