Traditional Festivals & Pageants

Navam Perahera
Navam Perahera – Another pageant held in Colombo on the full moon poya during the month of February. It is a spectacular event perhaps second only to the ever popular Esala Perahera held in Kandy. It is one of the most important religious and cultural events in the Sri Lankan calendar. The streets of Colombo are transformed in to a vibrant and colourful pageant of Elephants, almost entirely covered with richly embroided colourful cloth, drummers flutists and whip crackers. This annual event is organized by the Gangaramaya Temple which draws about fifty groups of various traditional artists from all over the Island. This magnificent spectacle is viewed by thousands of people each year and very popular among tourists as well. It is performed for on two consecutive days.
The Kandy Esala Perahera
If you are planning your holiday within the months of July/August, you may be fortunate enough to witness one of the worlds greatest pageants. “The Kandy Esala Perahera”

An unique event of great historical and cultural significance and one of Asia’s most remarkable spectacles takes place annually in the charming hill capital of Sri Lanka during the lunar month of July/August. This event popularly known world over as the Kandy Perahera is not only a religious ritual but also a folk festival which provides an occasion for local artists and multi-racial populace to exhibit their reverence and devotion to the enlightened one – The Buddha. There are several theories and interpretations regarding the origin of the pageant but the general belief is that the pageant in Kandy commenced in the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1781 A.D) Originally a ritual invoking the blessings of the Gods to bring rainfall during the dry months, later the Sinhala King who possessed the sacred tooth relic coupled the event with the procession in honour of the sacred tooth relic, thus becoming a fusion of two separate but interconnected peraheras. During these times, the Tooth Relic was considered private property of the King and the public never got a chance to worship it. However, King Rajasinghe decreed that the Relic be taken in procession for the masses to see and venerate. After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Relic was handed over to the Maha Sanga (the Buddhist Clergy). In the absence of the king, a lay custodian called the "Diyawadana Nilame" was appointed to handle routine administrative matters, a custom which is still followed. The rituals connected with the Tooth Relic are conducted by Monks of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka while It is the duly of the Diyawadana Nilame to organize the Perahera. He first gets the auspicious time from an advisor on astrological matters and then summons a large number of officials of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Custodians of the Devalas etc and entrusts them with various ceremonial duties connected with the conducting of the Perahera.

This stunning ten day pageant which takes place at night is when the replica of the relic casket is taken in procession led by at least a 100 majestic Elephants, almost entirely covered with richly embroided colourful cloth illuminated with brilliant bright lights, accompanied by thousands of exotically costumed dancers, drummers, and stilt walkers etc, the sound is electrifying with thousands of drums beating and the cracking of whips against the tarred streets. The first 5 nights known as the Kumbal Perahera is relatively modest, but from the sixth night onwards, known as the Randoli Perahera the procession becomes more and more grander. The festival finally ends on day 11 with the traditional 'diya-kepeema' which is the water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River atGetambe, a town a few miles from Kandy. A Day Perahera is held to mark the ceremony.

The exact dates of the Esala Perahera change from year to year as they depend on lunar or solar phases, This years pageant will take place from the 27th July – 05th August. The day perahera will be held on the 06th August.

Tickets need to be purchased in advance in order to view this great spectacle in convenient arranged locations along the streets of Kandy, or else balcony room bookings at the Queens hotel will allow you to enjoy the procession with privacy.

Inquire and book soon to avoid disappointment as only a limited number of tickets and rooms are available.
Vesak Poya
Vesak is celebrated island wide on the full moon poya day of the month of May and is the most significant of all Buddhist festivals celebrated in the country as it marks the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana (Passing away) of Lord Buddha.

Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. First comes the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in Nepal which took place under the arbor of Sat trees where queen Mahamaya gave birth to him.
The second event was Siddharta Gautam's supreme attainment as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. The third event was Lord Buddha's Parinibbana over 2500 years ago at Kusinagar

In the Vesak week we find many activities conducted by the Buddhists devotees such as devotional songs, sil campaigns, almsgiving, erecting of pandals lighting of Vesak lanterns ..etc. Many of the temples are filled with Buddhist devotees and pilgrims to mark this great event. In temples Buddhists worship, offer flowers, light lamps and burn incense. These traditional observances, in essence, have their value in satisfying the religious and emotional needs of the people. On this holy day the Dana plays an important role. Every devotee gives alms. This is a sign of sharing with joy and peace with people. The Vesak Pandal depicting various Jathaka stories with paintings are erected all over Sri Lanka. They are illuminated and presented beautifully.

Buddhist flags and Vesak lanterns in some form are displayed at all houses of these devotees which are very attractive and beautify during the night. There is a long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka of sending greeting cards on this joyous occasion. Many associations arrange to hold an exhibition of paintings or competition on Vesak pandals and lanterns and the winners are awarded with valuable prizes.