"Elephants in drag, fireworks, pageantry and frenzied worship are all part of a land with a surfeit of celebrations."

Sri Lanka has more festival days than anywhere on earth. There is so much here to
enjoy it's no wonder the Lankans love to party. They have such a plethora of celebrations demanding ritual, religion, razzmatazz and pageantry, and enough elephants, drummers, dancers and temples as exotic backdrops.

The current calendar lists about 29 public holidays for the year but that only takes care of The elaborate religious holidays and feast days celebrated by the Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year - 13,14 APRIL

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is called Sinhala Avurudu despite being celebrated by both
Hindus and Buddhists alike. It marks the completion of the solar circuit and has to be astrologically determined. So the Sinhala Avurudu may begin somewhere between 13 and 15 April, depending on the sages.

There is an astrological conclusion to the old year and the few hours beyond the new are the neutral period which is reserved for religious activity, regardless of the religion one might practise.

The New Year customs and the rituals are carried out between members of one's family, business associates, local tradesmen and even beggars. New clothes are worn, horoscopes are foretold, money is given and special foods are made, served and offered to the gods.

Vesak Full Moon - MAY

Vessk is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May. It is the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals, almost a Christmas, Easier and Whitsun rolled into one as it commemorates the birth of
the Buddha, his enlightenment and his death.

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