Are you the adventurous type looking for a holiday that encompasses a personal challenge? If so, then the Adams Peak Pilgrimage climb in Sri Lanka maybe something you would want to include on your next tour.
The Adams Peak Pilgrimage season is nearly on us – starting on the Full Moon (Poya) Day in December (12th December 2016) and finishing on the Full Moon (Poya) day in May (10th May 2017).
These Full Moon Poya Days have huge significance for Buddhists – each one is a significant day in the life of Lord Buddha.
Full Moon (Poya) day of December marks the arrival of the Bo tree sapling in Anuradhapura. This sapling was taken from the very tree under which Buddha reached enlightenment.
Full Moon (Poya) day of May celebrates the 3 key events in Lord Buddha’s life – his birthday, enlightenment and passing away.
With the celebration falling on the 13th night and 14th day of the Hindu month of Phalguna or Maagh, the 2017 Maha Sivaratri Sri Lankan Festival, which in held in honour of the Hindu god Shiva, will this year take place on 24th February 2017.
The event is of great importance to the many Hindus in Sri Lanka who believe that worshipping Shiva through chanting prayers, meditation, fasting and Yoga will cleanse themselves of their sins. Maha Sivaratri, or “the Great Night of Shiva”, is said to mark the day Shiva married the Goddess Parvati and performed the cosmic dance known as Tandava Nritya.
The unique and exuberant Galle Music Festival is making its annual return in May 2017 – a family friendly music and cultural event taking place in the stunning city of Galle looking out onto the Indian Ocean.
A very much different experience than the muddy, overpriced UK music festivals, the Galle Music Festival has been running annually for the past five years and is a melting pot of Sri Lankan music and dance. It takes place on the ramparts of Fort Galle with its views over the specular Indian Ocean.
Free to enter, the festival has a family friendly slot between ten in the morning and one in the afternoon where you can wonder around the various food and craft stalls while various acts perform impromptu sets as a teaser for the main events after sunset.
The music and performances are a fusion of different styles from across the island. The festival itself prides itself on its musical and cultural diversity which brings together people from different backgrounds across the island to celebrate through music and dance.
International artists also attend the event, with Raghu Dixit Project – the famous Indian singer-songwriter, producer and film score composer – being a notable past performer at the event.
Each year the Sri Lankan sky is awash with colour as the annual Sri Lanka National Kite Festival commences. Taking place at various locations across the island, the Kite Festival is a fun event that celebrates the artistic abilities of the participants and Sri Lankan national unity more widely.
The day is a great occasion for all the family as the sky is filled with the colourful creations of the many people who take part. There are various kite competitions held over the course of the festival, including the longest kite, the best kite made solely from national resources, most innovative kite and the number one fighting kite!
With various kite workshops also held, the day is fun packed and perfect for the entire family.
Routinely ranked as one of the best spots in the world for surfing, Arugam Bay is a magnet for surfers and water sport enthusiasts. The bay particularly attracts visitors during June time for the annual Arugam Bay Beach Festival.
Situated on the east coast of the island Arugam Bay is unique. Its position and relief generates plenty of high waves during the summer months and, compared to other coastal regions, doesn’t get affected by the annual monsoons.
During the peak summer season (between April and October) there is an influx of visitors, both from across Sri Lanka and from around the world who are drawn to the large waves. A testament to this is the large number of international surfing competitions that occur at Arugam Bay, including the very popular Red Bull Ride My Wave contest.
Visiting Arugam Bay during these festival months is highly recommended for avid surfers. Although the guest houses are fairly basic, the bay area itself is well looked after and preserved making it a great spot to enjoy the stunning Indian Ocean.
For families looking to surf in Sri Lanka we usually recommend Weligama beach on the south coast. Although the waves are not as large as those at Arugam Bay it is generally a much better option for those looking to learn to surf with a selection of great surf schools along the beach making for a fun family trip when visiting during your Sri Lanka family holiday.
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a significant national holiday in Sri Lanka and is celebrated across the island with great grandeur. The marking of the event as a national festival is unique to the island and is not to be missed if your Sri Lankan tour coincides with the celebrations. In 2017 the Sinhalese New Year falls on the 14th of April.
The New Year is known as Aluth Avurudu in Sinhala and Puthandu in Tamil and celebrates the moving of the sun from the House of Pisces to the House of Aries. The event typically takes place on the 14th of April each year and the joyous mood that sweeps the island running up to the celebrations is palpable.
