Festivals in Sri Lanka The book is contained with festivals in Sri Lanka during the year Sri Lanka has a multi cultural society. So there are different festivals related to different religions and ethnics.

January The first day of the year- 1st of January Thaipongal-15th of January Midlad –Un-Nabi-14th of January (A Muslim festival)

The first day of the year. There isn’t any special celebrations. The people send new year cards and wish each others.They clean their houses and ready for the New Year. And they spilt milk in their houses.

Thaipongal All the Tamil people in Sri Lanka celebrate this festival on 15th of January. First they clean their houses and decorate .They wear new clothes.They make pongal rice with milk and jaggery. This is a harvest festival.In the second day of the festival(Madu pongal) they treat their cows.

February Independence Day: a national festival. Mahashivarathri : a Hindhu religious festival.

Independence Day In 4th of February all the Sri Lankans celebrate the Independence day .It’s a public holiday.The national flag is exhibited in common places and infront of houses.

April Sinhala and Hindhu New year: a national festival Good Friday : a religious festival of Christians.

Sinhala and Hindhu New Year This festival symbolizes the transit of the sun from Pisces house to Aries house.The New Year festival has very special customs.On this day Sihalese and the Hidhus light the hearth at an auspicious time .They also take their New Year meal at an auspicious time. Tere are many special food. Milk rice( is made with rice and coconit milk or cow’s milk),spicy onion chillie sambal,kewum,kokis,asmee etc. The cuckoo bird and the red coloured Erabadhu flowers tell the message of New year to the county.

Pictures related to New Year. 1. Lighting the hearth in an auspicious time. 2. Eating the meals in an auspicious time .

Special sweets. Beating “rabana” Visiting relatives Swaying swings

Applying oil in an auspicious time. New year games.

May Vesak This is the most important festival for Buddhists. It symbolizes the birth, enlightnment and the passing away of Lord Buddha. People decorate their houses with colourful lanterns and paper streamers. Some people give “dansals”. All the Buddhists engage in religious observances at temples.We can see pandols in streets. Many Jathka stories are exhibited by them. Buddhists send Vesak cards to wish each other.

Pandols,vasak lanterns,dansals, dhamma programmes,vesak cards.

June. Poson This is another important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. This festival symbolizes the arrival of the arahath Mihindhu thero to Sri Lanka with the message of Buddhism. The festival is celebrated highly in Anuradhapura city where the “Missaka pawwa-arrival place” is situated. Some people give “dansals”. All the Buddhists engage in religious observances at temples.We can see pandols in streets. Many Jathka stories are exhibited by them.

July Esala : a religious festival of Buddhists. Ramazan: a religious festival of Muslims.

Esala This is also another important festival for Sri Lankan Buddhists. On this day they engage in different religious tasks like giving dansals,observing sil, listening to Dhamma progrmes etc. The remarkable event is “Daladha Perahera (procession)”.

Ramazan Muslim festivals always do not come on the same day.Because they follow Lunar calendar.This year it was held on July.It is celebrated at the end of Fasting periods.They prey at the mosque and enjoy good food like “watalappan” with friends and neighbours.

Ocotober Deepavali- A Hindhu festival. Id-ul-Alha – A muslim festival

December Christmas This is the birth day of Jesus the god of Christians.They decorate a tree with beautiful lights and balloons and keep it in the house at this festival.People give presents to relatives on this day.They do religious works in the church.Chiristmas cards,angels,carols,santa,jingle bells are some special things in the christmas season.

The End