Download Festivals in Sri Lanka - British Council Schools Online

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.
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.
Visiting relatives
Swaying swings
Beating “rabana”
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.