Today, 21st May is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development "On this Day, UNESCO would like to call upon everyone to celebrate cultural diversity, through which we will be able to build the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind."

Sri Lanka, A multi-ethnic, multi-religious country

Sri Lanka is a truly multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. According to the 2012 census 74.9% Sinhalese, 11.1% Sri Lankan Tamils, 9.3% Moors, 4.1% Indian Tamil and minorities comprising Veddas, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka, Malays who descend from Austronesian settlers, Burghers who descendants from European colonists of Portugal, Netherlands and UK, some ethnic Chinese and Kaffirs who descended from Africans have marked up the multi-ethnic Sri Lankan Population. 

Four of the world’s major religions are being practised in the country. Buddhism is followed by a majority of Sri Lankans who tend to be predominantly Sinhalese, while Hinduism is practised by Tamils, Islam is followed by Sri Lankan Moors and Malays, and Christianity the religion of the colonial invaders is practised by the burgher population as well as a few Sinhalese and Tamil families that converted during the colonial period.

These religious communities have been living side by side for many generations and thus there is a blurring of religious demarcation when it comes to celebrating religious festivals. Most Sri Lankans celebrate some aspects of different religious festivals that belong to other faiths.

It is commonplace for all religions and communities to join in the more secular aspects of celebrating Christmas while it is common for most Sri Lankans to hang lanterns and light oil lamps for Vesak. There is also evidence of local culture and traditions being infused into church services, in all Christian Churches in Sri Lanka. Therefore, contrary to popular belief Sri Lankans of all faiths and denominations have lived together sans any conflict for many generations. 

Buddhism 

Buddhism is the predominant religion in the country and is practised by over 70% of the population. Buddhism is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, or Lord  Buddha, meaning "the awakened one". The Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent during the 6th century BC. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end their suffering (dukkha) through the elimination of ignorance by understanding and the seeing of dependent origination (prat?tyasamutp?da) and the elimination of craving (ta?h?), and thus the attainment of the cessation of all suffering, known as the sublime state of nirv??a.

 Two major branches of Buddhism have been practised in Sri Lanka: Theravada ("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle"). 

Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc.). While the Mahayana is found throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan etc.) and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, and Tiantai variations of Buddhism. In some classifications, Vajrayana is practised mainly in Tibet and Mongolia, and adjacent parts of China and Russia are recognised as a third branch. In contrast, others classify it as a part of Mahayana.

 Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa around 308 BC, Buddhism received wide sponsorship from the monarch and all Kings that succeeded him and continued to be the predominant religion of the country from that time onwards.

At that time Emperor Ashoka who was a ruler of one of the Kingdoms in the Indian peninsula took a keen interest in the propagation of Buddhism across the known world, and it was decided that his son, Mahinda, would travel to Sri Lanka and attempt to convert the people there. The events surrounding Mahinda's arrival and meeting with the king form one of the most important legends of Sri Lankan history. It is said that king Devanampiyatissa was out enjoying a hunt with some of his soldiers in the proximity of a mountain called Missaka. It is believed that this meeting took place on the full moon day in the month of Poson (June)

It is said that Devanampiyatissa chased a stag into the thicket, and came across Mahinda. The king was convinced that the Thera was in fact a 'yakka', or demon. However, Thera Mahinda declared 'Recluses we are, O great King, disciples of the King of Dhamma (Buddha) Out of compassion for you alone have we come here from Jambudipa'. The King welcomed Mahinda thera and his disciples and invited them to preach the Dhamma to his court. Mahinda went on to preach to the king's company and preside over the king's conversion to Buddhism.

As the Kingdom of Anuradhapura converted to Buddhism, the influences of the religion began to be seen in the city of Anuradhapura and the architecture of the period. Many places of religious worship and teaching came to be built in and around the city.  For example, the Thupaarama in Anuradhapura is believed to have been constructed in Devanampiya Tissa's reign. There are also references to a Tissamahavihara and various other temples constructed by the king, however, none can be reliably located. The site of the King’s initial meeting with Thera Mahinda is one of Sri Lanka's most sacred sites today, going by the name Mihintale. The sacred precinct features the Ambasthala, or 'Mango tree stupa', where the Thera Mahinda is said to have asked Mahinda a series of riddles to check his ability to learn, the cave in which Thera Mahinda lived for over forty years, and the Maha Seya, which contains a relic of the Lord Buddha.

The other major site associated with Devanampiyatissa's reign is the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. The Bodhi tree was yet another of Emperor Ashoka's gifts to the island brought over by his daughter Sangamitta there together with 7 other saplings of the tree under which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. This branch of the sacred Bodhi was planted within the precincts of Anuradhapura and is regarded as the oldest tree in the world.

The sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha first arrived in Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna or Kithsirimevan. The king was overjoyed when he heard the news and warmly welcomed the royal couple from Kalinga who sought refuge in Sri Lanka with the sacred relic. He built a beautiful 

palace within the royal palace complex itself and enshrined the relic in it. Thereafter, he ordered that an annual perahera be held in honour of the sacred relic.

Many of the Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka are celebrated to commemorate the events described above. 

Poya the full Moon Holiday

Every full moon day, known as a Poya (in Sinhala) is a public holiday where practising Buddhist visit the Temple for the rituals of worship. (to observe pansil). There are usually 12 or 13 Poyas per year. The term poya is derived from the Pali and Sanskrit form uposatha (from upa + vas: to fast) primarily signifying "A day of fasting and abstinence". Generally, shops and businesses are closed on Poya Days, and the sale of alcohol and meat is forbidden.

A Buddhist devotee simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts as follows: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees and head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms in front of the heart, one recites these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice:

“As long as this life lasts: 

I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.   

I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.

I hereby take refuge in the Sangha. 

I will hereby respect these Three Jewels for the rest of my life! 

Devotees also pledge to accept respect & undertake to: avoid all Killing; avoid all Stealing; avoid all Sexual Abuse; avoid all Dishonesty, and to avoid all Alcohol & Drugs.

The full moon day is each month carries its own name as follows: 

    January                 Duruthu Poya

    February Navam Poya

    March         Medin Poya

    April         Bak Poya

    May         Vesak Poya

    June         Poson Poya

    July Esala Poya

    August         Nikini Poya

    September Binara Poya

    October Vap Poya

    November Il Poya

    December Unduvap Poya

Vesak Festival

Vesak is the most important of all Buddhist festivals as it is the commemoration of the birth, death and enlightenment of the Lord Buddha. It is the day that reminds everyone how the  Lord Buddha strove through 550 lifetimes to attain the bliss of Nibbana. Many devotees spend the full moon poya day observing  “pansil”  (the five precepts)  from dawn to dusk.  

The evening sees the streets of the county turned into a  festival of lights and colours as  Pandols depicting the  550  jathaka stories are turned on and dot the streets of every city and town in the country,  with Vesak lanterns of various shapes, hues and colours adorning every storefront and doorstep of almost every household.  The fragrance of joysticks and the flickering light of oil lamps can be experienced in every temple and the parapet walls of some households.  

People venture out in large groups sometimes on foot and sometimes in vehicles to take in the wonderful sights and sounds. The strain of songs of worship float on the balmy breeze of an evening in  May mixed with the sounds of amplified voices explaining the pandols which tell the story of the  Lord Buddha.

Dansals are set up to provide refreshment to the sightseers who take to the streets on Vesak. Dansals are a means of earning merit in the atonement of sins committed.   Dansal offers free food, drinks, kola kanda or porridge and even ice cream.  

Vesak is usually celebrated over two days the full moon day and the day following, to give devotees time to recover from an evening of sightseeing.  In recent years pandols,  lanterns and the dansals continue on both days while the  Pandols and some special lanterns can be viewed for a  week to  10 days after.  Giving devotees from around the country ample time to travel to see these special sights.  

Poson Festival

Poson full-moon poya day marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, a festival of great historical and religious significance celebrated island-wide by Buddhists. Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates the arrival of Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, with the objective of converting King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism. 

The main centre of the celebration is Mihintale  (known as the cradle of  Buddhism in Sri  Lanka), the ancient monastic complex where Mahinda preached his first sermon to the ruling king.  Celebrations are also held at Anuradhapura the ancient capital, to which a large crowd of pilgrims converge. Mass religious observances, illuminations and pageants are part of the celebration.  Long lines of devotees dressed in white climb the many steps to the top of the Mihintale hill first to the temple, and then to the dagobas that adorn the nearby hillocks. In addition, many devotees climb to the very top of the rock, to the spot where Arahat Mahinda is said to have delivered his initial sermon.

Many religious activities are organized during poson festival in Sri Lanka such as Sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas(Freely giving foods, coffee, tea from people ), Poson devotional songs, Poson pandols( thoran) and lanterns. 

During Poson many temples are filled with devotees observing Atasil (the 8 precepts - a derivative of the 5 precepts or Pansil) the rest of the village, generally gather at the temple grounds after sunset to participate in lesser religious activities, like reading holy books, or listen to the saffron-clad monk relate ancient stories from Lord Buddha's previous lives. 

A festival of great piety and sanctity which focuses on the virtual compassion for all living creatures, it is also one of much colour and gaiety, with streets, homes and public places decorated with beautiful and finely decorated hand-made paper lanterns.

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant religion of India and Nepal and of most Tamil peoples living in Sri Lanka. Hinduism includes precepts of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and ?rauta as well as teachings from numerous other traditions. 

Among other practices and philosophies, Hinduism includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on karma, dharma, and social norms. Unlike most other organized widely accepted religions, Hinduism is not based on a rigid set of common beliefs. But is formed of diverse traditions and has no single founder. 

Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India and, as such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion in the world.

Hinduism, with about one billion followers, is the world's third-largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. In Sri Lanka, Hinduism was one of the many faiths practised before the introduction of Buddhism. 

Hindu Influence in Sri Lanka was at its Zenith following the capture of the Kingdom of Rajarata by the Chola invaders known as the Aryachakravarti. During this period many courtiers and families of high caste status brought down Brahmins from South India to officiate at their temples, which in turn aided the spread of Hinduism throughout the Northern peninsula and to some parts of the East.

Unlike Buddhism which is a philosophy and way of life, and therefore no gods, Hinduism has a pantheon of gods who are venerated at temples and kovils across the island.

Vishnu - is venerated as the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism. Vishnu is also known as Narayana and Hari and is venerated as Purushottama or Supreme Purusha in ancient sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas and the Puranas. He is the Supreme Purusha of Purusha Sukta. The Vishnu Sahasranama, of the Mahabharata declares Vishnu as Paramatman (supreme soul) and Parameshwara (supreme God). It describes Vishnu as the all-pervading essence of all beings, the master of and beyond the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the universe and originates and develops all elements within.

Shiva - He is considered the Supreme God within Shaivism, one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. In other branches of Hinduism, he is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God. Known as the  “Destroyer" or "the Transformer" among the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of a lingam. He is described as an omniscient yogi, who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailasha, as well as a householder with a wife Parvati and two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya and a daughter Ashoka Sundari. Shiva has many benevolent as well as fearsome forms. He is often depicted as immersed in deep meditation, with his wife and children or as the Cosmic Dancer. In fierce aspects, he has often depicted slaying demons.

 Khali - also known as K?lik?, is the Hindu goddess associated with empowerment, or shakti. The name Kali comes from k?la, which means black, time, and death. Since Shiva is called K?la, K?l?, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death". Hence, K?li is known as the Goddess of Time and Change. Sometimes presented as dark and malevolent, her earliest incarnation is as a figure of the annihilator of evil forces. However, comparatively recent devotional movements largely conceive K?li as a benevolent mother goddess.

Skanda – or  Skanda-Murukan is also known as Kataragama deviyo is the deity to whom the great temple complex at Kataragama is devoted.  It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by the majority Sinhala Buddhists, minority Hindu Tamils, Muslims and the indigenous Vedda people. Skanda or Kataragama Deviyo is considered the guardian deity of Buddhasasana and of Sri Lanka.

Thai Pongal

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in India and Sri Lanka at the end of the harvest season. (around mid-January) It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus.

 Pongal marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. It coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India as the winter harvest and is usually held from January 13–16 in the Gregorian calendar i.e. from the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi to the third day of Thai.[6] The second of the four days or the first day of the month Thai is the main day of the festival which is known as Pongal or Thai Pongal. This also represents the Indic solstice when the sun purportedly enters the 10th house of the Indian zodiac. 

 The word Pongal itself refers to the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai. The saying "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" meaning "the commencement of Thai paves the way for new opportunities" is often quoted regarding the Pongal festival. It is a festival where Tamils thank the Sun god (Surya) for the good harvest and consecrate the first grain to him on this 'Surya Mangalyam'. 

Maha Sivarartri

Maha Shivratri is the Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha month of the Hindu calendar. Celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (March), the festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Beli leaves to Lord Shiva, fasting all day and an all-night-long vigil. All through the day the devotees, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord "Om Namah Shivaya", and in accordance with scripture, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, with the aim of reaching life's highest good steadily and swiftly.

Devotees in Sri Lanka also make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Lord Skanda in Kataragama in order to gain boons from the Gods towards their lives and well being.

Deepavaai

Deepavali or Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five-day Hindu festival which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on the second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.

 For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated with families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. 

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both activities are undertaken in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.

Vel Festival

The festival, celebrating the Kataragama deity’s triumph over evil forces and his marriage to the Sri Lankan Veddha girl Valli, has been taking place in an elaborate 14 -day festival at Kataragama since at least 1874. Although the origins of the festival are much older the earliest documented celebration at the shrine in Kataragrama dates back to 1874.

 Generally, Hindus and other devotees of the Lors Kataragam (many Buddhists) make Pilgrimages to Kataragam for this colourful two-week pageant and procession. Colombo is the only place from where most of his devotees opt to stay back instead of making the annual pilgrimage since the temples or Kovils in Colombo organize their own Vel procession to mark the culmination of the festival. 

Christianity

The earliest documented evidence of Christianity being practised in Sri Lanka dates back to the Portuguese period when King Parakramabahu the VIII gave permission for a Portuguese captain to erect a small chapel dedicated to St Lawrence in Colombo. It is said that a friar by the name of Vicente who was also the chaplain of the Portuguese fleet is said to have celebrated the first mass in Sri Lanka. However, there are verbal traditions that the apostle Thomas was active in Sri Lanka as well as Southern India in the 1st century AD, and that a small Christian community existed on the Northern and Eastern coasts of Sri Lanka in the following centuries.

The Portuguese slowly exerted their influence on the areas of the island under their control, forcing the natives to convert. They also forced conversion and the adoption of holy orders on the Royalty in exchange for military support and protection from rivals and usurpers. 

The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and introduced Protestantism and they ruthlessly propagated during the 150 years they occupied the country. The British who succeeded the Dutch also continued religious education but were not too interested in forcing the natives to convert to Christianity.

Therefore today Catholics comprise the majority of those following the Christian faiths while there are also sizeable communities of Anglicans and Methodists who make up the followers of the Protestant faith.

Easter 

The Easter Tridium is celebrated by all Christian denominations with services commencing from holy Thursday and culminating in the mass of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. However most Catholics will celebrate Easter by attending the vigil mass on Holy Saturday where a new fire is lit, the Easter candle is blessed and the new water blessed with the congregation renewing their baptismal vows.

There is a degree of commercialization with Easter brunches and lunches as well as Easter egg hunts organized by many of the popular restaurants and hotels around Colombo. 

Christmas

Of all the Christian festivals the most universally adopted is Christmas. Even in Sri Lanka Christmas has now become almost a national festival with the more secular traditions and celebrations being adopted by many urban non-Christian families as well. From Christmas parties to Christmas trees and festive decorations which are to be seen at all the stores and even on streets in the capital city of Colombo and some of the main cities. 

However, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ after a 4 week period of preparation which is called advent. During these four weeks, Christians prepare themselves spiritually to celebrate Christmas which is a time for forgiveness and peace. Most Christian church choirs will present a program of carols which are free services and Can be attended by anyone interested. Most of the Christian schools too will have a service of carols featuring the school choirs and the school bands. These generally tend to be of very high quality with well-executed choral music being presented.

Islam 

Islam is the religion of the Malay and Moor communities of Sri Lanka. Islam is also followed by those classified as Indian Muslims who belong to the Memon, Bhora and Khoja communities, although there are some minor differences the fundamental philosophy of the religions remains the same.

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an, a book considered the world over to be the word of God or Allah. 

Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of existence is to love and serve God. Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times and places before, including through Abraham, Moses and Jesus, whom they consider prophets 

Most Muslims are of two denominations, Sunni or Shia with about 1.57 billion followers or 23% of the earth's population, Islam is the second-largest religion and one of the fastest-growing religions in the world.

Ramazan

Ramadan or ? Ramaz?n is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; during which Muslims worldwide fast in atonement for their sins.  This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon.  The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramida or ar-ramad, which means scorching heat or dryness. 

While fasting from dawn until sunset Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking and sexual relations. According to Islam, the thawab (rewards) of fasting are many, but in this month they are believed to be multiplied

At the end of the period of fasting on the first day after the sighting of the new moon which signals the end of the month of fasting, muslims celebrate the festival of Eid. The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day where Muslims around the world unite in celebrating the end of the fast and reconcile their differences while engaging in religious observances and prayer.

National Festivals

In addition to the religious festivals Sri Lanka also celebrates several festivals which are not strictly religious festivals but can be classified as national and cultural festivals. These holidays are celebrated by the nation as a whole.

Sinhala &Tamil New Year 

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is yet another example of a national festival celebrated in Sri Lanka by not only the Sinhala and Tamil people but by people of all nationalities and religious denominations. It is believed that the Sinhala and Tamil New year may have originated as a harvest festival and has been influenced by the two mainstream religions of the local people of Buddhism and Hinduism. Today although the main celebrations and the auspicious times remain the same there are differences in the rituals followed by the Sinhala and Tamil peoples.

In the month of Bak in the Buddhist calendar (or the month of April according to the gregorian calendar), when the sun moves (in an astrological sense) from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) in the celestial sphere; Sri Lankan people of Sri Lanka begin celebrating Sinhala New Year or Aluth Avurudu, and also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka.

However, unlike the celebration of the new gregorian calendar year at midnight on December 31, the Sinhalese traditional New Year begins at a time determined by astrological calculations. Also unlike 31st night celebrations, where an old year ends at midnight and a new year begins immediately afterwards; the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year occur several hours apart from one another. This midway point in the journey of the sun, when as a disk, it starts to cross the astrological boundary between 'House of Pisces' and 'House of Aries' is considered the dawn of the New Year. The period between the start of this journey to the midway point is referred to as the Nonagathe (or the 'neutral period'). During this time Sri Lankans are, according to tradition, encouraged to refrain from material pursuits, and engage solely in either religious activities or traditional games.

 Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the Sinhala New Year with the lighting of an oil lamp, lighting of the new herath and boiling of milk. In some communities, women congregate to play upon drums to herald the dawn of the New year. People travel to their home towns and ancestral homes to participate in traditional rituals each at the exact timings of which are determined by astrological calculations - from lighting the fire, to making the Kiribath or milk rice, to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels. The rituals vary slightly based on the locale, however, the core of the celebrations remains the same.

Once the important rituals are done, the partying begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory foods such as Kavum (oil cake) and Kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat, originally from the Netherlands).  Aluth Aurudu is an important national holiday for both the cultures of the Sinhalese people and the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. 

Perahara

The Perahera or procession generally refers to the Esala Perahera or the festival of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.  It is believed that the current day celebration which is held in the months of July / August for approx. 10 Days, is a combination of the traditional Esala Festival and the Dalada Festival. The Esala Perahera which is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC, was a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th century B.C.

There are many important temples in Sri Lanka which have their own Perahera celebrated during different months of the year. Including the Duruthu Perahera celebrated by  Rajamaha Viharaya in Kelaniya, The Navam Perahera celebrated by the Gangarama Temple in Colombo, and yet the Esala Perahera in Kandy is the grandest pageant of all.

The pageant in its current format is believed to have been established about 250 years ago during the reign of Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1781), who was King of Kandy. At the time the Tooth Relic was considered the private property of the King and the public never got a chance to worship it. However, King Rajasinghe decreed that the Relic be taken in procession for the masses to see and venerate.

 After the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom, the custody of the Relic was handed over to the Maha Sanga and, a lay custodian called the "Diyawadana Nilame" was appointed to handle routine administrative matters connected to the festival. 

The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with the Kap Situveema or Kappa, in which a sanctified young Jackfruit tree is cut and planted in the premises of each of the four Devales dedicated to the four guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and the goddess Pattini. 

For the next five nights, the "Devale Peraheras" take place within the premises of the four Devales with the priest of each Devale taking the pole every evening, accompanied by music and drumming, flag and canopy bearers, spearman and the Ran Ayudha, the sacred insignia of the Gods. 

On the sixth night, the Kumbal Perahera begins and continues for five days. 

The relic casket, which is a substitute for the Tooth Relic, is placed inside the "Ransivige" affixed to the Maligawa Elephant, and the Maligawa Perahera joins the awaiting Devale Peraheras and leads the procession. Whip-crackers and fireball acrobats clear the path, followed by the Buddhist flag bearers. Then, riding on the first elephant is the official called Peramuna Rala. He is followed by Kandyan Drummers and Dancers who enthral the crowd, and are themselves followed by elephants and other groups of musicians, dancers and flag bearers. A group of singers dressed in white heralds the arrival of the Maligawa Tusker carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Diyawadana Nilame walks in traditional Kandyan-attire behind the tusker.

 The Esala Perhera in Kandy is a colourful and glamourous festival that while including several religious rituals is really a festival of colours, light and showcases the skills of traditional artists such as drummers and dancers, and a must watch at least once in your lifetime.

Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity can be witnessed across the island with the diversity of festivals, food, heritage sites, arts & crafts, and dance & music. Rather than other Asian destinations, this vibrant blend of cultural diversity is compacted into 65,610 Square kilometers in Sri Lanka, making it possible to experience it personally. Therefore, for those who would love to explore these magnificent cultures in Sri Lanka, we have the best cultural tour packages crafted to cater to the different needs of culture lovers.