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<ul>Sri Lankan culture is best displayed in their festivals. There are many festivals that belong to different faiths and ethnicities commemorate on a grand scale throughout the year. Some significant and spectacular festivals are Sinhala New Year, Vesak festival, Poson festival, Perahera, Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) pilgrimage, and Vel festival.<br>
<br>Almost all the festivals and special occasions are celebrated with traditional Sri Lankan dance. There are three traditional dance forms that are associated with the ritualistic practices of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. The dance form belonging to the up-country region is known as “Udarata Natum” or Kandyan dance and that which is found in the southern coastal area is called “Pahatharata Natum” or low-country dance. The dance which is practiced in the province of Sabaragamuwa is referred to as “Sabaragamu Dance”. Especially at the Perahera celebrations, three dance forms are displayed vibrantly.<br>
<br>They are fantastic, interactive, and visually stunning cultural shows that entertaining visitors of any age from any continent.<br>
<br><b>Sinhala New Year</b><br>
<br>Traditional Sinhala and Hindu New Year in Sri Lanka is celebrated in the month of April. It marks the ending of the solar circuit and is considered auspicious by Sinhalese and Hindus. <br>
<br><b>Vesak Festival</b><br>
<br>The full-moon day in the month of May called “Vesak Poya Day”, commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment, and Demise of Lord Buddha. Vesak festival is celebrated with a blaze of lights, lanterns, and huge illuminated displays of pandols, and Thoranas. Food or drink donations at roadside booths at which free refreshments are distributed to all passers-by.<br>
<br><b>Poson Festival</b><br>
<br>Pososn festival is celebrated on the Full Moon Poya Day in the month of June. Officially introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka was occurred on this day by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka in India in the 3rd Century BC. <br>
<br><b>Perahera</b><br>
<br>In the months of July and August the most fascinating cultural shows, the Kandy Esala perahara, and Kataragama perahera were held. The colorful processions are held for two weeks to express respect and sacrifice to the tooth relic of the Load Buddha and the God of Kataragama. <br>
<br><b>Sri Pada Pilgrimage</b><br>
<br>Sri Pada also called Adam's Peak, is a tapering mountain 7,360 feet above sea level, soaring clear above the surrounding mountain ranges. However, the altitude is no damper to the thousands of pilgrims who climb the mountain in endless procession during the early period of every year. When you climb it you see the clouds below you, shutting out your view of the base.<br>
<br><b>Vel Festival</b><br>
<br>The Vel Festival is celebrated by Hindus to honor Lord Sri Murukan. To mark the beginning of the Vel Festival, an ornate silver-plated chariot that contains the ayudha (weapons) and a statue of Lord Murukan is drawn by a pair of snow-white bulls or sometimes by hundreds of devotees dressed in an egalitarian white waistcloth.</ul>
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12/16/18, 6:02 AM |
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Beach holidays |
Beach holidays |
<ul>Sri Lanka is blessed with a 1,700 km long coastline. The coastal line often twists and curves into beaches with little nooks, bays, and coves, bars, spits, and dunes. These palm-caressed, sun-drenched beaches kiss the clear blue and peacock bright Indian Ocean at a warm of 27° C that makes Sri Lankan beaches ideal romantic hideaways.<br>
<br>Sri Lanka is naturally gifted with so many beaches around the country resulting in a less crowded, hustle-free environment on the beach. That provides an opportunity to view expansive ocean water, as psychologists refer to “Blue space” to calm your mind, relaxing and rejuvenating yourself. As well as you can do swimming, sleeping, walking, building sandcastles, fishing, and whatever you feel to do.<br>
<br>Sri Lankan beach holidays are never ended by a season because some parts of the country’s beaches have friendly and warm waters for taking a dip and relaxing on the sandy beach. The south and the west coast are in full swing from November to April whereas the east coast is best in the rest of the year. If you are a tourist seeking sun-bathing, swimming, water sports such as surfing, diving, and whatever beach-related activity there is no other destination in the world other than Sri Lanka.<br>
<br>The most popular beach resorts in the West Coast, South Coast, East Coast, and the North Coast are:<br>
<br><b>West coast</b><br>
<br>The large holiday resorts are at Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Bentota, Ahungalla and Hikkaduwa contain on the West coast.<br>
<br><b>South coast</b><br>
<br>The south coast is one of the most gratifying places to visit from Sandy beaches with stilt fishermen, to beautiful wildlife parks, to remains of colonial heritage. South coast begins from Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Dickwella, Tangalle and ended at Hambantota.<br>
<br><b>East coast</b><br>
<br>The most striking features of the beaches on the east coast are extensive sandy beaches and clear, shallow water allows walking 1 to 2 km into the sea. The best resorts are at Nilaveli, Kuchchaveli, and Marble Bay at Trincomalee and Pasikuda, Kalkuda and Arugam Bay.<br>
<br><b>North coast</b><br>
<br>The northern coastal beaches start from Marawila 65 km north of Colombo and Chilaw, Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Mannar, Poonarine, and Jaffna.</ul>
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12/16/18, 7:32 AM |
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