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Vesak

✦ Island-wide, Colombo · Buddhist festival ★ Featured

Vesak

The full-moon festival of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing — lanterns, illuminated pandals and free food stalls island-wide.

Photo: Sheviii 1234 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

When it usually happens

  1. JanNot usually
  2. FebNot usually
  3. MarNot usually
  4. AprNot usually
  5. MayUsually takes place
  6. JunNot usually
  7. JulNot usually
  8. AugNot usually
  9. SepNot usually
  10. OctNot usually
  11. NovNot usually
  12. DecNot usually

Many Sri Lankan festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates change every year — check the official dates before booking.

Overview

Vesak, held on the full-moon (Poya) day of the month of Vesak — usually in May — is the most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away (parinibbana) of the Buddha.

Homes and streets are decorated with paper Vesak lanterns (kudu), large illuminated pandals (thoran) depict stories from the Buddha’s life, and roadside dansal stalls hand out free food and drinks to everyone. Colombo, Kandy and other towns are especially colourful in the evenings.

Highlights

  • Vesak lanterns and illuminated pandals (thoran)
  • Dansal stalls offering free food and drinks
  • Temple visits and observance of the eight precepts
  • Evening crowds in Colombo and Kandy

Good to know

  • Vesak is a public holiday; alcohol and meat are not sold on Poya days
  • Roads near large pandals are very busy at night
  • Wear white or modest clothing when visiting temples

References / Sources

Location

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