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Dinesh De Alwis, Blessings before Grade Five Scholarship Exam in Sri Lanka, CC BY-SA 4.0

Rituals and customs go to the heart of the ancient culture of Sri Lanka. They have been passed down from generation to generation straddling over the 2,500 year history of the island. A majority of these customs and traditions are interspersed with the daily routines and livelihoods of people in their respective regional, social and religious spheres.

Taprobana, was the name given to the island of Sri Lanka by the ancient Greeks. Some of these cultural significances and rituals are based on colonial influence and are mostly still in practice within the island and is more to do in Galle , Kandy, Colombo and Negombo and other areas that were subjected to extensive colonial rule. You may catch the architectural wonders when staying at these areas in a tourist resort or villa such as Taprobana, Wadduwa Sri Lanka.

The aboriginals of the country also known as the ‘Veddhas’ are famous for prayers to avoid misfortune which they believe to be caused by the lifeless. Charms and various rituals are carried out by ‘Kattandiyas’ often to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. In the ancient times, before the discovery of calendars the people of the country had a habit of considering full moon days as a day for spiritual awakening. In the modern times, Poya Days are preserved for practising Buddhism by visiting temples to engage in various religious rituals. Most Buddhists observe the ‘Eight Precepts’ on these days to stay away from the pleasures of materialistic life. One of the biggest religious festivals of Sri Lanka similar to most Buddhist counties is Vesak, this is a commemoration of the birth, Enlightenment and ‘Parrinirvana’ (passing way) of the Buddha.

Thovil or “devil-dancing” are a ritualistic healing ceremony exclusively practised by Sri Lanka.

The temple of tooth relic ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ in Kandy, is a dynamic temple complex that has a series of ingrained rituals. The annual Perehera at Dalada Maligawa is a cultural phenomenon. During this glorious event, the Tooth Relic is paraded through the vibrant streets, alongside cultural dancers, traditional drummers, and majestic Sri Lankan elephants.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

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