Events in Sri Lanka
The occasions Sri Lanka celebrates, and the sound each one needs.
Sri Lanka's festival calendar is genuinely shared across its communities: the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April is celebrated jointly by both, and the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian calendars each bring their own major occasions through the year. Kandy's ten-day Esala Perahera each July or August, with its elephants and drummers, is one of Asia's most famous festivals, and Colombo's hotels and banquet halls carry most of the wedding and corporate events business.
Occasions and events in Sri Lanka
- Independence Day
February: 4 February every year
Sri Lanka's independence from British rule marked with a national ceremony, parade and multi-faith religious observances.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year
April: 13 and 14 April every year (Aluth Avurudda / Puthandu)
Sri Lanka's biggest holiday season, celebrated jointly by the Sinhalese and Tamil communities with astrologically timed rituals and games.
- Vesak
May: the full moon day of May, with festivities running for about a week
Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist observance, marked with lanterns, pandals and devotional music across Colombo and beyond.
- Esala Perahera
August: ten days in July or August, dates announced by the Temple of the Tooth around January each year
A grand torchlit procession in Kandy with drummers, dancers and elephants, honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.
- Deepavali
October or November, following the Hindu lunar calendar
The Festival of Lights, marked by Sri Lanka's Tamil Hindu community with temple prayers and family gatherings.
Events in other countries
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