Festivals in Sri Lanka

Festivals of Srilanka would leave most enchanting experiences on the minds of its travelers as the island enjoys the bright and colorful tradition festivals celebrated with full fun and enthusiasm. Mostly festivals in Sri Lanka are religion base and celebrated with same sprit among all sections of the society.
The people of Sri Lanka are so lively that there is festivity mood throughout the year, which is easily depicted in their celebrations, with vivid traditional rituals, ceremonies and a splendid extravagance. The exact dates of most festivals tend to change from year to year as they depend on lunar and solar aspect.

Hindu Festivals
Hindu festivals in Sri Lanka are also celebrated with distinctly dazzling ceremonies and rituals.

Deepavali (October/November)
Besides India, Diwali festival is equally celebrated with great devotion in Sri Lanka. Diwali the festival of lights, lamps, rituals and is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, according to legend on this auspicious day Lord Rama return to Ayudhya, from 14 years of exile. Goddess Lakshmi, known as the goddess of wealth is also worshipped on the day and a grand puja celebration is organized in every Hindu house.

Buddhist festivals
Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka are more recurrent as the country is dominated by Buddhist faith. With respect, on full moon day of every month religious ceremony are performed by the followers of Buddhists, the day is called Poya Day. The main full moon day celebrations are - Duruthu (January): Vesak (May): Poson (June): Esala (July/August): Unduvap (December).

New Year Festival
Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a traditional celebration that foretells the way of the sun from Pisces to Aries. The event is prominent throughout the island, following traditional customs with the emphasis on carnival celebration.

Muslim festivals
Muslim festivals are also closely associated to religion. The community follows a minority group that is the reason the celebrations are not much in notice. The main Muslim festivals are the Milad-un-Nabi or the birth of the Prophet Mohammed in December, Id-ul-Fitr marking the end of the holy fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the Haj festival when Muslims make their pilgrimages to the holy Muslim shrine at Mecca.

Christmas festivals
Christmas is also very much part of the island's festivities, and is celebrated with same fun and folic through out the island among all communities, especially Christians.