✦ Kelaniya · Buddhist festival
Duruthu Perahera, Kelaniya
January processions at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara near Colombo, commemorating the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
When it usually happens
- JanUsually takes place
- FebNot usually
- MarNot usually
- AprNot usually
- MayNot usually
- JunNot usually
- JulNot usually
- AugNot usually
- SepNot usually
- OctNot usually
- NovNot usually
- DecNot usually
Many Sri Lankan festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates change every year — check the official dates before booking.
Overview
The Duruthu Perahera is held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, a few kilometres from central Colombo, around the Duruthu full-moon (Poya) day in January. It commemorates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka, as recorded in the island’s chronicles.
Over several nights the temple hosts processions of elephants, drummers and dancers — a smaller, more local alternative to the Kandy Esala Perahera.
Highlights
- Elephant processions at an ancient temple
- Traditional drummers and dancers
- Easy to reach from Colombo
Good to know
- Arrive early for a good view
- Dress modestly; remove shoes inside the temple
References / Sources
- Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau: https://www.srilanka.travel
Location
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