The Culture is a central concept comprising with diversity across the societies. Sri Lanka is a country which has a very rich and unique culture and thereby it contributes to its identity among the other countries of the world. The most important feature of the Sri Lankan culture is the festivals celebrated in higher standard.
Religion is one of the basic and important elements in Sri Lankan culture and its traditions. The uniqueness of the customs and rituals were adopted by the Sri Lankan generations since then. Consisting three main nationalities: Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka, they celebrate different national and religious events which are unique to their religion or the nationality.
The uniqueness, simplicity, attractiveness and the dedication of the people lead to their ecstasy in celebrating the cultural events and get the attention of the other nations.
Independence Day – February 4th
Sri Lanka has been under the rule of the European colonizers such as Portuguese, Dutch and the British beginning from 1505 and ended in 1948. Sri Lanka was declared the independence on 4th of February on 1948 and it is still celebrated annually in remembrance of all the national struggles and to commemorate the political independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule in 1948. On this national holiday people celebrate the independence movement against British by hoisting the national flag and many dances, parades and other performances are included in the ceremony.
The religious leaders of the country perform religious activities to bless the country with peace and prosperity. National responsibility, patriotism, bravery and immense dedication of the Sri Lankan’s are specially admired on this national day. All the Sri Lankan embassies in the world celebrate this Independence Day in honor of the country’s self-rule.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration is a major cultural event celebrated in the country during the month of April as the sun moves from Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to Aries (Mesha Rashiya). During this time of the year people end up their cultivations and celebrate the New Year with their new harvest.
The tuneful call of the bird Koha (Asian Koel) can be heard throughout the month and the blooming of Erabadu flowers signify the observances and traditions of the New Year which makes all the Sri Lankans happy and joyful. People prepare themselves by buying new cloths to their family members, preparing delicious traditional sweats, cleaning the household and burning fireworks in the celebration of this cultural event.
People engage in religious activities in the temples and Kovils to get the blessings from the religious leaders and wish for the prosperity before the auspicious time arrives. Burning of hearth and boiling coconut milk to spill in a new clay pot symbolizes the prosperity and good fortune which is done to welcome the New Year by all the Sri Lankans.
All the relatives, neighbors and the villagers get together in this most awaited time of the year to enjoy in advance and to pay homage to the elders which is practiced over centuries. Singing songs, playing traditional games, playing of Rabana (drums) and serving of meals can be seen during this festive season.
Kandy Esala Perahera
The Festival of the Tooth or the Kandy Esala Perahera has a prominent place among the Sri Lankans which is held to commemorate the Buddha’s Conception, his Renunciation and the First Sermon. This glorious event includes various customs performed by the dedicated devotees of the procession. This festival of the Tooth is held on the months of July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
The dancers and the elephants participate in the procession wearing beautiful and glittering garlands and decorated with ceremonial costumes to add glamour to the procession. The sound of shots, whip Crackers, Buddhist Flags, Sword Carriers, Fire Ball Dancers, Front Runners, First Hewisi Group, Gajanayake Nilame, Drummers, Trumpet Blowers, Coconut Flower Dancers, Thammattam Players, and decorated elephants are the main participants of the procession.
The procession takes place for ten nights. The first five processions are called Kumbal and the other five are called Randoli. The Randoli Perahera is the most magnificent event and it ends with water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River to mark the end of the ceremony
The Buddhists celebrate their religious festivals in advance by lightning lamps, singing Buddhist devotional songs, offering dansal and preaching Bana in temples with a great gratitude.
Tamil Cultural Events
The Thai Pongal Festival is celebrated by the Tamil community in Sri Lanka on the tenth month of the Tamil calendar as a tribute to the sun’s northward journey from its southernmost end.
Boiling of fresh milk to spill is obvious at the beginning of the festival to mark the prosperity. Thai Pongal is a family festival in which every family member is participated with joy.
The Tamils spray their home with turmeric water and a square area in the front is prepared with colorful decorations with colored rice flour outlined with clay. A delicious Pongal dish, vadai, murukku, Payasam and other traditional sweetmeats are shared among the family members and the visitors. All the Tamils are filled with a sense of gratitude and hope during this period of time.
Deepawali or Dewali is another festival celebrated by the Tamils in the name of Goddess Lakshmi and other deities. It is traditionally celebrated for five days each consisting of different rituals. The custom of lightning lamps, buying new cloths, preparing sweets, decorating houses, and giving gifts is common in Diwali festival.
Theru Festival is a popular procession conducted by the Hindus in Sri Lanka. The main annual Theru festival is conducted in the historic Sri Muthumari Amman Temple in Matale district in a ceremonial way. The statues of Lord Murugan, Sivan Ambal, Shri ganeshan, Shandeshulary and Goddess Pattini and decorated chariots drawn by devotees are taken along the streets with gratitude.
Muslim Festivals in Sri Lanka
Ramadan is a most awaited festivals of the Muslims celebrated with immense joy and traditions. Sri Lankan Muslims fast and most of them attend prayers at mosques during the Ramadan period.
The celebration of Id’ul Fitr festival where people gather to the Mosques in the morning to pray, listen to a sermon, give Salaams and hugs each other to mark the end of Ramadan. Reciting of Quran is a regular event during their fasting period. Muslims prepare lot of sweets, Pakoras, Samosas, a soup prepared from rice named “Kanji” and specially Watalappam unique to their culture. All the family relatives get together for a lunch and share happiness and joy.
The Hujj Festival is celebrated by most of the Muslims in Sri Lanka. The Muslims gather in the mosques to pray and listen to sermons. All the members of the Muslim families dress up with new cloths and visit the relatives and their beloved. The rich people lend lavishly money to the poorer ones to enable them to take part in the celebrations as other well to do people do.
Christmas Celebrations in Sri Lanka
The Christmas was introduced to Sri Lanka by its colonizers, Portuguese, Dutch and British who ruled the country long time ago. It is a festival celebrated in advance across the country. Burning of fireworks at the dawn of 1st of December is a ritualistic task to mark the beginning of Christmas all over the island.
Decorated Christmas trees are a common festive décor in all the shopping centers and Christian homes. On the 25th of December all the devotees get together in churches and chapels to attend “Mid Night Mass” in the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. All the Christians and some non-Christians are invited to parties and merry making events in the Christmas Eve. Especially the Christians prepare delicious seasonal cake to share with neighbors and relatives.
Easter Sunday is an important date in Christians’ religious calendar. They celebrate Easter Sunday as the day of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Egg- related traditions are popular on this day as they believe Easter eggs represent Jesus’s emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
All in all, the cultural events pave the way for all the citizens in Sri Lanka to display their cultural identity, togetherness, bring family link and allow them to enjoy to the fullest. It is a common factor that every Sri Lankan share food among each other in celebrating these cultural events which depict their hospitality and togetherness.
At the same time the cultural events contributes immensely for the co-existence of all citizenry. It is doubtful to think of a well-cultured country like Sri Lanka which is acclaimed as a multi-cultural country, sans the Cultural events which are celebrated throughout the year wholeheartedly by all citizens that belong to different Nationalities and Religions.
