Sri Lanka Traditions

Religion: about 70% of the population - the Buddhists, 15% - Hindus (Tamils), 8% - Christians, 7% - Muslims. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but gives the dominant position of Buddhism as "occupying a dominant position."

Public holidays are 1 January, February 4 - Independence Day of Sri Lanka, 1 and May 22, June 30, August 9, 25 and 26 December and the religious holidays of all faiths of the country.

The abundance of festivals and religious festivals in the country simply defies description, but most of them are "internal events" of a particular religious group or a rural community, so the specific dates of these meetings are still unknown to tourists. Moreover, not all of them tourists are allowed. Therefore, the dates of specific events is better to clarify on the spot.

The most known and popular among tourists and local residents are "Kandy Esala Perahera" (July-August) - ten-day ceremony with thousands of events dedicated to the sacred tooth of Buddha from the temple of Kandy. The second-holiday of the country - "Duruthu Perahera" (January, Colombo), on the arrival of the Buddha in Sri Lanka. In those days being a traditional annual parade "Navam" to the walls of the main Buddhist temple of the capital - Gangarama. Noisy and fun to celebrate New Year (March-April), followed by races on elephants and a variety of sporting events. Traditional "Besakih (May), the first day of the Hindu new year and one of the major festivals of Sikhism, as well as" Buddha Jayanti (April-May, the main Buddhist festival) has been widely noted in the north.

Hindu Festival Conducted (July-August) held in Colombo, the ceremony celebrated passage sacred chariot of the god of war Skand. Kataragama festival (July-August) takes place in Katagarame and is accompanied by shocking religious beliefs and rituals. Many pilgrims come to Adam's Peak, which, according to legend, lived Adam and Eve after the expulsion from paradise. Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice island of Eid-ul-Azha (April-May), Birthday of Prophet Mohammed Eid-e-Milad (Mawlid al-Nabi, May-June), Day of Mourning Muharram (Tadzhiyya, May-June), Id -n-Milad (Barach vafat, October) and, of course, the holy Ramadan. Independence Day of Sri Lanka (February 4) notes the many parades, dance and theatrical performances.