Festivals
7 religious festivals
Religious festivals
Kandy Esala Perahera
Sri Lanka's most famous procession festival, honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic with drummers, dancers, tuskers, and torch-lit night parades.
- When
- July/August
- Where
- Kandy
- Days
- 11 days
Vesak
The island-wide Buddhist full-moon observance marked by lanterns, almsgiving stalls, temple worship, and illuminated pandals.
- When
- May
- Where
- Island-wide
- Days
- 2 days
Deepavali
The Hindu festival of lights, observed by Sri Lankan Tamil communities with temple visits, oil lamps, sweets, and family gatherings.
- When
- October/November
- Where
- Tamil Hindu communities island-wide
- Days
- 1 day
Duruthu Perahera (Kelaniya)
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara's January procession, held at the Duruthu full-moon poya near Colombo to honour the Buddha's visit, with drummers, dancers, torch-bearers and elephants.
- When
- January
- Where
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Kelaniya (near Colombo)
- Days
- 1 day
Nallur Festival
Jaffna's 25-day festival at Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Sri Lanka's biggest Hindu festival, culminating in the chariot festival and the water-cutting ceremony.
- When
- August/September
- Where
- Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna
- Days
- 25 days
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) Pilgrimage Season
The December-to-May pilgrimage season on Sri Pada, from the Unduvap poya to Vesak, when the lit steps, night climbs and sunrise at the sacred footprint draw Sri Lanka's biggest multi-faith pilgrimage.
- When
- December–May
- Where
- Sri Pada (Adam's Peak), Peak Wilderness
Poson Poya
A major Buddhist full-moon observance remembering the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, especially vivid around Mihintale and Anuradhapura.
- When
- June
- Where
- Mihintale and Anuradhapura
- Days
- 1 day