Sri Lankan Holidays |
| Thai
Pongal |
Thai Pongal or Pongal is
a harvest festival celebrated in Sri Lanka at the end of the harvest
season. It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the
Tamils in the Sri Lanka. On this day, the Sri Lanka Tamil farmers
honor the Sun God Suriyapakaran. This happens when the sun enters the
zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). The festival of Pongal is
celebrated by Sri Lankans over two days. The first day is devoted to
the boiling of milk in a pot to which rice, jaggery and the syrup
extracted from crushed sugar cane is added. This sweet rice pudding
is offered first to the Sun God, and is then eaten at the climax of a
family festive meal. The second day is dedicated to the oxen who
assist the farmers in the rice fields. It is called Mattu (cattle)
Pongal. The animals are washed and decorated with straw garlands hung
around their necks and horns. |
| Milad-Un-Nabi |
The birthday of the Holy Prophet
Muhammed known as Milad-Un-Nabi, is celebrated by Muslims the world
over today. |
| Poya
day |
Duruthu Poya, Navam Poya, Medin
Poya,Bak Poya,Vesak Poya,Poson Poya,Esala Poya,Nikini Poya,Binara
Poya,Vap Poya,Il Poya,Unduvap Poya. If a month has two Poya Days the
name of the second one will be preceded by"Adhi" ("extra" in Sinhala)
as in"Adhi Vesak","Adhi Poson", etc. |
| National
Day (Independence Day) |
Sri Lanka Independence Day
celebrated on 4th of February each year. The independence day of Sri
Lanka is a great national occasion celebrated with parades and
pageants combined with the spirit of patriotism and national pride.
The celebrations begin with the hoisting of the national flag and
singing the national anthem, followed by the traditional lighting of
the lamp ceremony. Subsequently there are various cultural programs
as well as serving of refreshments. |
| Mahasivarathri
Day |
Sri Lanka's Hindu devotes celebrate
the annual Maha Shivaratri festival by fasting for an entire day and
holding a night long vigil at Hindu temples island wide.Sivarathri
symbolizes the regeneration of the human soul by being one with the
divine. The festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Maasi
which lasts from mid February to mid March. |
| Sinhala
& Tamil New Year Day |
In Sri Lanka, Sinhala is the new
year of the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka. It is a major anniversary
celebrated by not only the Sinhalese people but by most Sri Lankans.
The timing of the Sinhala New Year coincides with the New Year
celebrations of many traditional calendars of South and Southeast
Asia. The festival has close semblance to the Tamil New year.
According to Sinhalese astrology, New Year begins when the sun moves
from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya. It also
marks the end of the harvest and spring. |
| Good
Friday |
Like the rest of the world, the
Christian community in Sri Lanka is observing Good Friday. On this
day Jesus Christ was crucified and it is observed to mark the
sacrifices laid down by Him.Services to mark Good Friday will be held
in Christian churches island wide. |
| May
Day |
In Sri Lanka, it is observed on May
1 and is a Government and public holiday. The government has held
official May Day celebrations in major towns and cities, with the
largest being in the capital, Colombo. During celebrations, it is
common to witness party leaders greeting the crowds. Workers
frequently carry banners with political slogans and many parties
decorate their vehicles. |
| Eid-ul-Fitr |
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. Thousands of Sri Lankan Islamic
devotees gathered at the Gall Face Green to attend Eid prayers
marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. After the prayers,
people also visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances and some
people also pay visits to the graveyards. |
| Eid
ul-Adha |
Eid ul-Adha or hadji festival is the
Festival of Sacrifice. It is a public and bank holiday in Sri Lanka.
Muslims all over the Sri Lanka celebrate this holy day. It falls
approximately 70 days after Eid ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and is
celebrated in honor of the prophet Abraham willingness to sacrifice
his son as a proof of his loyalty to God. |
| Deepavali |
Deepavali Festival is mostly
celebrated by the Sri Lankan Tamils. It is also termed as the
Festival of Lights. This symbolizes the victory of good forces over
evil forces. The lamps are symbolic of this celebration and hope for
an bright and prosperous future. Fireworks are add to the glow and
color and aura of the festival. As Sri Lankans Hindus (mostly
Tamils), follow mainly the customs of South India, Festival of Lights
is known as Deepavali Festival on the island too. |
| Christmas |
In December 25th the commemoration
of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ .It's a public holiday on Christmas
day Of Sri Lanka. The midnights of 24th December cathedrals,
churches, and little chapels all over the country Christian attend
Midnight Mass. Sri Lankan peoples find Christmas as the perfect time
to sharing kind, loving compassion hearts with others. Christians
invite relatives, friends to their Christmas parties and share with
them cakes, wines and other Christmas foods. |
