Nallur Festival, Jaffna

Jaffna

Twenty-five days of festivities at Jaffna’s Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, culminating in the great chariot procession.

Island-wide, Jaffna

The Hindu festival of lights in October or November — oil lamps, sweets and temple pujas.

Kataragama

The Esala festival at Kataragama, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims — processions, fire-walking and the long foot pilgrimage.

Trincomalee, Mannar, Chilaw

The great night of Shiva — night-long prayers at the island’s ancient Shiva temples such as Koneswaram and Ketheeswaram.

Jaffna, Island-wide

The Tamil harvest festival in mid-January — rice is boiled until it overflows as a thanksgiving to the sun.