Golden Sri Lanka Travel Blog

Among the many other festivals Sinhala & Tamil New Year is the most important and unique festival for Sinhalese Buddhists and the Tamil Hindu’s living all around the world. This falls on the 13th or 14th of April every year. Sinhala & Tamil New Year begins when the sun moves from the “House of Pisces” (Meena Rashiya) to the “House of Aries” (Mesha Rashiya). This makes the end of the harvesting season. The New Year marks the begining of a new cycle of the sun according to the astrology. The beginning of the New Year is determined by astrological signs. The ending of the old year and the begining of the New Year occur several hours’ part one another. This time period is called neutral period or in Sinhala terms “nona gathe”. During this time sri lankans do not engage any activity other than religious activities, playing “rabana” and traditional games.

 
The cultural rituals begins after the begining of the new year. The first one will be lighting the fire to make milk rice “kiri bath”. Then having kiribath to the auspicious time and doing first business transaction (”Ganudenu”). All these auspicious times are determined by astrological calculations. Once these activities are finish people visit friends and relations with and worshipping elders with beetle leaves is also makes an important tradition during new year.

The first boat show of Sri Lanka (Boat Show 2008) will be held on the month of June. It will be starting on the 8th June 2008  to 10th June 2008 and the venue will be BMICH .

Maha Sivarathri is a Hindu festival which is celebrated during the end of February or early march. This important religious festival is for Hindu’s in honoring of Siva. On this day poojas are held in the temples hindu’s spend the full night in temples singing bajans and prayers

Sri Lanka will be celebrating the 60th  Independence Day on 04th of February. Along with this celebration an exhibition called “Deyata Kirula” will be open to public. The idea behind this exhibition is to educate the young generation and the public regarding the great history of Sri Lanka, present and where the country is heading. This will be open to public from the 4th of February to 10th.

Sri Lanka will be Celebrating the 60th Independence Day on February 04. In the year of 1948 Sri Lanka won the , after ruling Sri Lanka from 1815 to 1948. Irrespective of the security threats from the LTTE it is believed that their will be a grand Independence Day Celebration this year. Government has increased the security around Colombo before the 60th Independence Celebration.

For the Independence Celebration Government has invited the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as the chief guest. But India has said that the Prime Minister will not be attending to the event.

Navam Perahera is held at Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo on the Navam full moon poya day of every year. The Perahera was first started in the year of 1979. This year the Perahera will be held on the 20th of February and it is treated as one of the spectacular pageants apart from the Kandy and Kelaniya. This is one of the Prestigious Buddhist religious and cultural even held in Sri Lanka.

Thousands of people come to see this magnificent grand procession every year, among them lot of tourists make the opportunity to view this grand event . Seating arrangements are available for tourists as well as Sri Lankans.

More than 100 colorfully dressed elephants, drummers, traditional Kandyan dancers, fire-dances, whip-dances and Flags and Decorations will be displayed in the Navam Maha Perahera of Sri Lanka.

Contact us today for view this magnificent Colorful, Cultural Pageant.

ITB the world’s largest travel and tourism exhibition will be held from March 5th to 9th in Berlin, Germany.  This exhibition is treated as one of the largest travel exhibition in the world. There will be more than 10,000 companies from 184 countries will be present for this exhibition.  More than 50 travel companies will be expected to participate in this event with there latest innovative products and services from the travel industry.

Annual Duruthu Maha Perahera of Kelaniya temple will be held on the 22nd of this month (on Duruthu full moon poya day) which is taken place science 1927. This colorful procession is only second to the Kandy Perahera. The Perahera is held for three nights. Udamaluwa Perahera starts with the ritual handing of the secret casket on the upper terrace of the temple. Pahathamaluwa Perahera is held on the second day and it is colorful than the Udamaluwa Perahera. The most colorful and the grand procession is head day prior to the full moon poya day. There are more than 80 elephants, so many dancing troops and drummers participate for this event attracting thousands visitors from different parts of the country.

The Galle Literary Festival is scheduled to be start on the 16^th to 20^th of this month @ UNESCO world heritage site of Galle. There will be more than 70 events such as panel discussions, poetry slams, film evenings, seminars, and book launches etc.

A French Opera set in Sri Lanka, “The Pearl Fishers” by Georges Bizet 120 singers, Musicians and Dancers will be performing on the 9th and 11th of January 7.00 pm onwards @ BMICH Colombo.

Alliance française 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7 (2 69 41 62)
The Gallery Café , 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3 (Tele 2 55 65 63)
Vibrations, 467, Union Place, Colombo 2 (2672427)

(Prices will be 5000/-, 3500/- and 1500/-)