Tag Archives: Sri Lanka

Deepavali – The Festival of Lights

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Located just south of the Indian peninsula is the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka. Also known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka is nation with a rich heritage and multi-cultural society. It is also a popular tourist destination, as it is home to beautiful golden sandy beaches, magnificent mountains with lush greenery, renowned religious and historical sites, and a booming hospitality industry along with a wide range of recreational and leisure attractions.

There are many religious and cultural festivals that are celebrated in Sri Lanka. One such festival which is of immense significance to the Hindu Tamils of the island is Deepavali. This festival, which is a celebration of good triumphing over evil, is also celebrated in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, and several other nations. The festivities involve a great deal of colourful rituals, traditional practices, and many exciting features making it an extremely vibrant event.

Deepawali, or Diwali; as it is known in India, is usually held during mid-October and mid-November. The festival is celebrated to banish all the shadows and evil from one’s life, which is why one of its main elements is the lighting of oil lamps. The light emitted from the lamps represents the good casting away the evil, which is also why Deepawali is colloquially called the Festival of Lights.

In addition to each house lighting lamps, the other festivities include traditional rituals for the Goddess Lakshmi at kovils, the lighting of firecrackers, colourful street parades, the making and distribution of traditional Tamil sweetmeats, and the exchange of new clothes. It is also a time when families visit each other, with all the relatives coming together. The festival of Deepawali is extremely beautiful and vibrant, and is celebrated grandly each year in what culminates as one of the most colourful festivities of the Tamil people.

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Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Kataragama Festival, a spectacular event

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The town of Kataragama in Sri Lanka is famed as a popular pilgrimage destination for many devotees from all parts of the country and even overseas, attracting Hindus, Buddhists and even the indigenous Veddah community.

Hindu and Buddhist veneration of Kataragama has been practiced for centuries, with followers of these two religions holding slightly different beliefs regarding the site. Tamil Hindus identify the presiding deity of the locality as Lord Katirkaman, who is identified as Skanda-Murugan, also known as Subramanya.

Buddhists, on the other hand, consider the local divinity to be Kataragama Deviyo, a protective deity of Buddhists and their religion. In fact the town is revered as one of the sixteen most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the island.

However there is no doubt that the most looked forward to time of the year at the famed Kataragama Temple is the annual festival season. This much anticipated occasion falls on the full moon day of Esala, which generally occurs in July or August. This is a vibrant and hectic occasion, when thousands of devotees throng the town to demonstrate their devotion to the presiding deity. Drummers show off their artistry and majestic elephants in rich attire are paraded.

Favours are requested from the divinity and firm vows are made. There are those who go to extraordinary lengths to show their complete dedication to the godhead, performing amazing acts of seemingly excruciating rites of self-mortification. Some of these devotees roll bare-bodied across the sandy areas near the venerated temple; others swing, apparently oblivious to the pain, from metal hooks piercing their bodies. Still others dare to walk over red-hot coals whilst the onlookers shout out words of encouragement.

The festival concludes with the water-cutting rite which is performed in the nearby Menik River, which is thought to bring rain and usher in plentiful harvests. With so many distinctive sights, sounds and sensations the spectacular Kataragama Festival never fails to enthral the visitor, irrespective of age or nationality.

Travellers to the island seeking a fine Sri Lanka beach hotel will be pleased by Mermaid Hotel & Club. This attractive Kalutara hotel provides quality accommodations and attentive hospitality that makes your stay all the more memorable.

 

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Kataragama – a revered religious site

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Kataragama is a town located in the south of the island nation of Sri Lanka that is a noteworthy pilgrimage destination for Hindus, Buddhists and the indigenous Veddah people alike. Even devotees from southern India come to this venerated site to pay their respects at the sacred shrines gracing the locale. The site of veneration is the Kataragama temple, known in the Sinhalese language as the Kataragama devalaya; it stands in honour of God Skanda-Murugan or Kataragamadeviyo as the locals call the deity.

Tamil followers of the Hindu faith, both in Sri Lanka and southern India, call the location Katirkamam. The deity is variously known as Skanda-Murugan, Katiradeva, Subramanya, Kandasamy, Tarakajith and other names by the Hindu community. The god is depicted as having twelve hands and six faces or alternatively as featuring four hands and a single face. To demonstrate their devotion and loyalty to God Murugan, and to cultivate good karma, devotees pierce their tongues and cheeks with metal implements, and pull heavy chariots while attached to them with hooks.

On the other hand, Buddhists consider the presiding divinity to be a special guardian of the Buddhist faith and the Sri Lankan nation. Kataragama is believed to be one of the sixteen sites of Buddhist veneration in the island. The revered Bo tree to be seen behind the temple is thought to be a descendant of the Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka. Not to be missed is the Kiri Vehera stupa, which is located in the vicinity. This edifice is thought to have been originally constructed by King Mahasena many centuries ago.

There is no doubt that Kataragama is a site of veneration for devotees of many faiths; even a Muslim mosque may be seen within the temple compound. Although the many people who revere the deity are of different castes and creeds, they are united in their faith in the god and his ability to provide divine assistance in times of personal troubles, or for success in various endeavours. Well-informed visitors desiring Sri Lanka car rental or who are interested in exploring options for airport transfers Sri Lanka will be pleased by Malkey Rent A Car, a reputed provider of reliable transport solutions in the island.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.

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Vesak Festival – The festival of light

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Celebrating the birth, death and the attainment of enlightenment of Lord Buddha, the Vesak Festival is of utmost importance to Buddhists all across the globe. Observe the many festivities that take place on during the season while lodging at one of the Sri Lanka hotels such as Heritance Ahungalla known to be one of the most sought after Sri Lanka beach hotels ideal for a holiday in this exotic location. Falling on a full moon poya day, typically on the 5th or 6th luna month, this festival of light blows full blast upon the island as glittering lights wink along the roadways and multicoloured lanterns gleam, gently swaying in the breeze. A common sight during this time are gigantic Vesak pandols depicting stories from Jataaka stories colourfully illustrated and adorned with thousands of glittering lights twinkling rhythmically. The Vesak Festival for Sri Lankans is a time where religion and festivity come together to create a unique combination not experienced anywhere else.

 

Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Calliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered.

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Celebrate the Festival of the Tooth at the Annual Esala Perahera

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Often regarded as the most colourful and grandest cultural melees in Sri Lanka the “Festival of the Tooth” is no ordinary religious procession in the island of Sri Lanka. Held annually during the months of July/August this larger than life display of performance art forms is a highlight in the country’s tourist calendar each year. Attracting visitors from around the world the Esala Perahera as it is locally known takes centre stage in the country’s hill capital Kandy and is one of the oldest cultural processions in the nation’s history.
Hosting a monumental cultural display each year the Esala Perahera is a Buddhist festival at heart and commences with the Esala Full Moon Poya Day in July and culminates with the Nikini Poya Day in August. Having taken place in the same manner at the same venue since 3rd century B.C it is in fact a joining together of the Dalada Perahera and the Esala Perahera in an ancient ritual to appeal to the deities for sufficient rainfall. Celebrated with great pomp and pageantry the annual showcase sees the participation of elaborately clad elephants and local dancers, traditional Kandyan dances, fire displays, whip dances and other folk performances that are part of no other procession in the island.

Starting from the date of the Kap Situveema during which a sapling from a jack tree is planted in the four central Hindu temples of the region the Esala Perahara appeals to four deities namely Pattini, Vishnu, Katharagama and Natha. The Devale processions take place for five nights in each Hindu Temple following the planting ceremony and the Kumbal Perahera kicks off on the 6th night. The Kumbal Perahera takes place on the next 5 nights till all the Devale peraheras combine at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic where the holy tooth relic of Lord Buddha himself is contained. A replica of the sacred tooth is placed on a ceremonial elephant known as the Maligawa Athaa as a procession from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic leads the remaining four parades from the Hindu temples.
The Randoli Perahera thus takes centre stage for the following five nights till it culminates with the Day Perahera as well as the Diya Kepeema.

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Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Katarama – A spiritual oasis on Sri Lanka’s southern coast

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Sri Lanka is a very mystical island that is home to a variety of faiths and spiritual practices. To explore and discover all these fascinating locales, a variety of travel companies offer some competitive Sri Lanka tour packages in which one can witness the best cultural offerings on the island. Some of the best holiday packages Sri Lanka offers come courtesy of Shanti Travel Sri Lanka and visitors are sure to enjoy a holistic travel experience when travelling with these folks. One of the most spiritual locations on the island is housed in the town of Kataragama, home to an immensely powerful holy trio from the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim faiths.

It is home to the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya, an important shrine dedicated to the powerful Kataragamadeviyo, also known as Skanda-Murugan, or Lord Katirkamam to the Tamil Hindu communities of Sri Lanka and South India. A shrine located nearby, called Sella Kataragama is dedicated to Lord Ganesha of the Hindu pantheon, considered to be the brother of Lord Katirkamam. Alongside the shrine is a river ridden with semi-precious gemstones, and the locals swear by its curative properties because of the high mineral content. The town also houses the Kiri Vehera Buddhist Stupa, which is a massive, magnificent Buddhist temple erected on the site where Lord Buddha was believed to have conversed with King Mahasena, who presided over the Kataragama area during the time. Kataragama is also home to an Islamic Mosque, dedicated to Al-Khidr, or the “Green Man” in Islamic lore who is believed to be an early prophet. The prophet has associations with the waters of immortality, since upon drinking it, he was believed to have attained eternal youth. He is believed to guide those faithful adherents who embark upon the mystical path. When one sets foot in Kataragama, one immediately feels the atmospheric shift in the air that hearkens to these spiritual places of worship within the town.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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Pre-historic Sightseeing Sri Lanka – For Budding Archaeologists!

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While the island nation of Sri Lanka is one that has a rich cultural heritage, it is also home to several pre-historic sites that provide an insight into humans who lived here at the time. Those planning to travel around the island visiting some of these sites and its many other attractions can make use of air taxi tours Sri Lanka provides to visitors. Cinnamon Air is one such air taxi Sri Lanka offers and lets you easily access several key destinations around the country.

Archaeologists believe that humans inhabited the island as early as 700,000 BC and several sites have been found with evidence of pre-historic humans who lived here. Pahiyangala is home to the largest natural rock cave in Asia and is where it is where fossil remains of prehistoric man have been found. It is also believed that the Chinese monk Fa-Hsien also used this cave as his abode. Close to Kuruvita is where you will find the Batadomba Cave where the ancient remains of the Balangoda Man have been found. Further pre-historic remains have been found at the Alawala cave in Gampaha, the Alu-lena in Kegalle and the site at Bellan-Bandi Palassa which offer intrepid adventurers with plenty of exciting exploration.

The charming Poson Festival in Sri Lanka

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Jetwing Travels is a pioneer in providing convenient Sri Lanka travel facilities to ant part of the country. Personalized Sri Lanka tours can be organized according to your preference if you contact this travel provider. Sri Lanka is a country which is home to a diverse range of ethnicities. O the number of cultural festivals you would be able to witness while in the country is immense.

If you are visiting the island paradise of Sri Lanka during the month of June you would be able to witness a very important festivals to the Buddhists in the country; the Poson festival. The celebration is mainly centered on Mihinthale a city very close to the historic Anuradhapura kingdom. It is believed that Arahat Mihindu came from India on this day with the gift of Buddhism to all Sri Lankans. Many holy events based on the temples take place all over the country. Free food is given to people who go on pilgrimages or anyone who passes on the road. There are many replicas of the Mihinthale Mountain all over the country displaying the story of how Buddhism came to the country. This truly is a very soothing festival celebrated on the full moon day of June each year.

Witness the colourful and glamorous Kandy Esala Perahera

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One of the most popular holiday destinations in Asia is Sri Lanka. Travel to Sri Lanka and enjoy the diverse range of attractions and activities that it offers. While visiting the country the least issue that you would come across is traveling. Jetwing Travels is a professional organization which offers Sri Lanka tours accordingly to suit your personal wants and needs.

Apart from the natural and historical attractions Sri Lanka has some unique cultural events that equally amaze both the locals and foreigners. One such spectacular festival is the Kandy Esala Perahera which takes place during the month of August. Even though this is a Buddhist festival, the number of non-Buddhists from around the world gathers in the city of Kandy to witness this colourful event. This festival had been celebrated from ancient times and still has not lost its glamour and class. The main item in this parade is the Tooth Relic which is taken around the city on a tusker with great respect. Apart from this there are many dancers, whip crackers, stilt walkers, a huge number of elephants, fire dancers and much more. This is held during the night time which makes the parade more enchanting and beautiful. Light is provided in a traditional way by people who carry lanterns which have “coppara” burning. The aroma of these coppara and the smell of burning kerosene oil can be felt miles ahead. Many street vendors can be found selling various food items, trinkets and toys making the experience more Sri Lankan and unique. Make sure you make an early reservation in one of the many places that offer seating facilities to avoid getting squashed amidst of a sea of people.

Poson Festival – An honored religious event

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Sri Lanka is much more than a paradise of pristine beaches and diverse wildlife. The island has a rich historical and cultural heritage which is reflected in its distinctive festivals. A traveller seeking Sri Lanka tour packages can choose from the holiday packages Sri Lanka offered by Shanti Travel Sri Lanka which will help you experience local culture at its best. One of the island’s main Buddhist festivals, Poson is only second to the vibrant Wesak Festival. Poson celebrates the day on which Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka from India thus Buddhists participate with much honour, creating colourful lanterns. Cities all over the island shimmer with multi coloured lights embracing the festival spirit.

 

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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