January
At the peak of the tourist season when crowds are at their largest, many popular towns have special events such as the fast growing literary festival at Galle.Duruthu Perahera
Held on the poya (full moon) day at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya in Colombo and second in importance only to the huge Kandy Perahera (procession) this festival celebrates Buddha first of three visits to Sri Lanka.Thai Pongal
Held in mid January this Hindu winter harvest festival honours the sun god Surya. It is important to Tamils in Sri Lanka and South India. Look for the special sweet dish, pongal, which is made with rice, nuts and spices.Galle Literary Festival
An annual event held in mid to late January, this five day festival brings together renowned Asian and Western writers. It is well regarded and attracts big names. A parallel fringe festival covers current issues and other creative pursuits.Kala Pola Art Market
The original Kala pola Art Market is an annual event held the third Sunday of January. Up to 500 artists from across Sri Lanka display their work. It's a kaleidoscope of creativity and has spawned a smaller weekly version.February
The tourist crowds continue strong, with wintering Europeans baking themselves silly on the beaches. This is a busy month for Sri Lankans, with an important national holiday.Independence Day
Sri Lanka gained independence on 4 February 1948 and this day is commemorated every year with festivals, parades, fireworks, sporting events and more across the nation. In Colombo, motorcades shuffle politician from one event to the next.Navam Perahera
First celebrated in 1979, Navam Perahera is one of Sri Lanka's biggest and flamboyant peraheras. Held on the February poya, It starts from the Gangaramaya Temple and travels around Viharamahadevi Park and Beira Lake in Colombo.March
This is an important month for many of Sri Lankan's Buddhists and you'll see observance of Maha Sivarathri in the Ancient cities and areas and portions of the west coast where they are in the majority.Medin Poya Day
3rd Poya day (full Moon Day) in year.Maha Sivarathri
In late February or early March the Hindu festival of Maha Sivarathri commemorates the marriage of Shiva to Parvati with all night vigils and more. It's the most important day for Shaivites, who comprise the majority of Sri Lanka's Hindus.April
Although Christians comprise only 6% of Sri Lankan's population, secularised versions of Christian holidays are popular. Don't be surprised when you see an Easter bunny at the mall.Sinhala, Hindu New Year (Aurudu)
New Year's Eve (13 April) and New Year's Day (14 April) are non religious holidays. There is a period between the old and new year called the "neutral period" all activities are meant to cease, otherwise buses and trains are jammed.Art Trail
As if Galle wasn't enough of a work of art, the whole Fort area virtually becomes one giant artist's easel during the Art Trail,a bi annual event (The next is due to be held in 2013)Bak Poya Day
4th Poya day (Full Moon Day) in year.May
The southwest monsoon blows in for five months, bringing huge rains from the Indian Ocean that drench the Hill Country and the beach towns in the southwest.Vesak Poya
This two day holiday poya day and the day after commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Amid the festivals, the high point is the lighting of paper lanterns and oil lamps outside of every buddhist home, shop and temple.June
Sri Lanka's Buddhists barely have a chance to catch their breath after Vesak before another major religious event occurs and they'll want to catch their breath.Poson Poya
The Poson Poya day celebrates the bringing of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mihinda. In Anuradhapura there are festivities in the famous temples, while in nearby Mihintale thousands of white clad pilgrims ascend the 1843 steps to the topmost temple.July
Light bulb vendors do a huge business as buddhists gear up for Esala Perahera, which begins at the end of the month. Light displays are an integral part of the Kandy festivals, with a parade of light bulb decorated elephants.Vel
This festival is held in Colombo and Jaffna. In Colombo the gilded chariot of Murugan (Skanda), the god of war, is ceremonially hauled from Pettah to Bambalapitiya. In Jaffna the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil has a 25 day festival.Kataragama
Another important Hindu festival is held at Kataragama, where devotees put themselves through a whole gamut of ritual masochism. It commemorates the triumph of the six faced 12 armed war god Skanda over demons here.August
The Kandy Esala Perahera is important but smaller versions are held across Sri Lanka. Many celebrations feature dancers and other performers such as stiltwalkers who practise all year.
Kandy Esala Perahera
The Kandy Esala Perahera, Sri Lanka's most spectacular are prominent festival, is the climax of 10 days and nights of celebrations during the month of Esala. This great procession honours the sacred tooth relic of Kandy and starts in late July.Nallur Festival
Jaffna's Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil temple is the focus of an enormous and spectacular Hindu festival over 25 days in July and August, which climax on day 24 with parades of juggernaut floats and gruesome display of self mutilation by entranced devotees.September
Binara Poya Day
9th Poya Day in the year.
October
This is a month of meteorological mystery as it falls between the two great monsoon seasons. Rains and squalls can occur almost any place at any time.
Vap Poya Day
10th Poya day in the year.Deepavali
The Hindu festival of lights takes place in late October or early November. Thousands of flickering oil lamps celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the return of Rama after his period of exile.November
The second to last month of the year is a time of waiting waiting for the tourist throngs, waiting for Christmas, waiting for the coming monsoon rains in the dry North and East.Ill Poya Day
11th Poya day in the year.European Film Festival
Sri Lanka's nascent film industry gets its chance to show off during this new festival held at venues across the island, including Jaffna, Kandy, Colombo and Galle. It's held in either October or November.December
The other great monsoon season of the year begins this month and lasts until March. Winds come from the northeast and that's just the part of the island that sees huge rains.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 Vesak Poya. The trek begins shortly after mid night so that everyone can be in place for sunrise.Unduvap Poya
This full moon day commemorates Sangamittha, who brought a cutting from the sacred Bodhi Tree in India in 288 BC to Anuradhapura. The resulting tree, The Sri Maha Bodhi, is considered the oldest living tree in the world. The ceremonies attract thousands in their finest.Christmas
Outside of Sri Lanka's christian communities mostly around Colombo this day has be come a popular secularized holiday. Ersatz versions of Western Christmas traditions can be found across the nation from bone thin Santa's in strange masks to garish artificial trees.POYA
Every poya (Full Moon) day is a holiday. Poya causes buses, trains and accommodation to fill up, especially if it falls on a Friday or Monday. No alcohol is supposed to be sold on poya days and some establishments close. Some hotels and guesthouses discreetly provide their thirsty guests with a cold beer "under the table".Note that the official full moon day for poya does not always coincide with the same designated full moon day in Western calendars. Because of the religious time used to calculate the exact moment of full moon the poya day may be a day earlier or later than that shown on regular calendars.
For more on these important days.
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