Festivals in Sri Lanka
sri lanka history long many ancient civilization positioned crossroad east west multicultural society celebrates wide variety festival ceremony event every year april sinhalese tamil people celebrate sinhalese tamil new year festival muslim celebrate mawlid fast islamic month ramadan celebrate end month festival eid alfitr eid aladha celebrated final month islamic calendar known dhu alhijjah christian celebrate easter christmas esala perahera asuhluh pehruhharuh grand festival month esala held sri lanka happening july august kandy become unique symbol sri lanka buddhist festival consisting dance richly decorated elephant firedances whipdances kandyan dance various cultural dance elephant usually adorned lavish garment festival end traditional diyakepeema elephant paraded around city carrying casket venerated buddhist bearing relic tooth buddha order may differ year year due astrological astronomical reason january duruthu full moon poya religiousbuddhist january initial aluth sahal mangallaya new rice festival temple tooth customarysinhaleseagriculture related january patti pongal religioushinduagriculture related january patti kiri ithirima customarysinhaleseagriculture related february national day independence day customarypoliticalcommemorating political freedom attained british empire february navam full moon poya religiousbuddhist march maha shivaratri religioushindu march mawlid religiousislam march medin full moon poya religiousbuddhist april day prior sinhalese tamil new year religiouscustomarybuddhisthindusinhaleseagriculture relatedastrology related april sinhalese tamil new year religiouscustomarybuddhisthindusinhaleseagriculture relatedastrology related april national herbal oil ceremony customarybuddhistsinhaleseastrology related april bak full moon poya religiousbuddhist april good friday religiouscatholicchristian april easter religiouscatholicchristian may may day customarypolitical may watching new moon new solar year customaryastrology related may vesak full moon poya vesak religiousbuddhist june poson full moon poya religiousbuddhist june ramadan eid alfitr religiousmuslim july esala full moon poya religiousbuddhist august nikini full moon poya religiousbuddhist august esala perahera customaryreligiouspoliticalbuddhisthindusinhalese september binara full moon poya religiousbuddhist october vap full moon poya religiousbuddhist october diwali religioushindu november il full moon poya religiousbuddhist hajj eid aladha religiousislam december unduvap full moon poya religiousbuddhist december christmas religiouscatholicchristian