If you want to visit Sri Lanka and experience its festivals and celebrations, be sure to check out our festival calendar.
- January, Colombo - Duruthu Perahera: Commemorating the arrival of the Buddha in Sri Lanka
- January - Traditional annual Navam parade to the walls of the capital's main Buddhist temple, Gangaram
- March-April - New Year's Eve: Accompanied by elephant races and various sporting events
- May - Vesak: The first day of the Hindu new year and one of the major holidays of Sikhism
- April-May - Buddha Jayanti: A major festival of Buddhists, widely celebrated in the north of the country
July-August - Kandy Yesala Perahera: A ten-day ceremony featuring thousands of activities honoring the sacred tooth of Buddha from the Kandy temple.
July-August - The Hindu festival of Vel in Colombo: Celebrated with a ceremony to drive the sacred chariot of the war god Skanda.
July-August - Kataragama festival in Katagarama: Accompanied by various religious performances.
Muslim holidays:
- April-May - Eid ul-Adha: The festival of sacrifice (Eid ul-Azha)
- May-June - Maulid al-Nabi: Prophet Muhammad's birthday (Eid e-Milad)
- May-June - Tajiyah: Day of Mourning (Muharram)
- October - Barah Wafat: The day of remembrance of Prophet Muhammad
- Ramadan: The fall week-long holiday
February 4 is Independence Day of the Republic of Sri Lanka, celebrated with numerous parades, dance, and theatrical performances