Festivals & Holidays |
Festivals & Holidays |
2016
|
2017
|
Tamil Thai Pongal Day | 15. January |
14. January
|
Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day | 23. January | 12. January |
National Independence Day | 4. February | 4. February |
Navam Full Moon Poya Day | 22. February | 11. February |
Mahasivarathri Day (Birth of Lord Shiva) | 7. March | 24. February |
Madin Full Moon Poya Day | 22. March | 12. March |
Good Friday | 25. March | 14. April |
Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day | 13. April | 13. April |
Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day | 14. April | 14. April |
Bak Full Moon Poya Day | 21. April | 11. April |
May Day / Labour Day | 1. May | 1. May |
Vesak Full Moon Poya Day - Buddha Purnima | 21. May | 11. May |
Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | 22. May | 12. May |
Poson Full Moon Poya Day | 19. June | 9. June |
Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day) | 6. July | 26. June |
Esala Full Moon Poya Day (Perahera/Kandy only) | 19. July | 9. July |
Nikini Full Moon Poya Day | 17. August | 7. August |
Id -Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival Day) | 12. September | 2. September |
Adhi Binara Full Moon Poya Day | ||
Binara Full Moon Poya Day | 16. September | 6. September |
Vap Full Moon Poya Day | 16. October | 5. October |
Deepavali Festival Day | 29. October | 19. October |
Il Full Moon Poya Day | 14. November | 4. November |
Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet´s Birthday) | 12. December | 1. December |
Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day | 13. December | 3. December |
Christmas Day |
25. December
|
25. December |
Id-Ul-Alha occurs on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja. It is one of two Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. Eid ul-Adha is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for God. Others celebrate Eid-ul Adha as it marks the end of the Pilgrimage or Hajj for the millions of Muslims who make the trip to Mecca each year. Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha also begins with a short prayer followed by a khutba. In Mecca, the Khutba is delivered from Mount Arafat.
Start of Ramadan: 29. June 2014, 18. June 2015, 7. June 2016, 27. May 2017
Poyas
Duruthu
(full moon Poya day in January)
In honour of Lord Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka. This visit too took
place in the first year of The Buddha's Supreme Enlightenment.
Navam (full moon Poya day
in February)
Celebrates the following events in Buddhist history: Entrance into the order
of two leading disciples of The Buddha (Sariputta and Maha Moggalana), The Buddha
proclaims for the first time a code of fundamental ethical precepts for the
monks. The Buddha announces that within three months His Parinibbana (death)
will take place
Medin (full moon Poya day
in March)
Commemorates the visit of The Buddha to his home to preach to his father King
Suddhodana and other relatives and show them the path to enlightenment and final
deliverance.
Bak (full moon Poya day in
April)
It commemorates the second visit of The Buddha to Sri Lanka which took place
in the fifth year of his Supreme Enlightenment
Vesak (full moon Poya day
in May)
The Buddhist calendar begins with the month of Vesak. On Vesak Day, Buddhists
world over commemorate the triple anniversary of Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gautama
The Buddha. Triple anniversary because The Buddha was born, attained Supreme
Enlightenment at the age of thirty five, and after a successful ministry of
forty five years attained Parinirvana or passed away on a Vesak (May) full moon
Poya Day. It was also on a Vesak full moon Poya Day, in the eighth year of his
enlightenment, that The Buddha made his third and final visit to Sri Lanka.
On this full moon Poya begins the 2541 year of the Buddha.
Poson (full moon Poya day
in June)
It commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Arahat Maha Mahinda
(son of King Asoka of India) at Mihintale in the third century B.C. Ven Mahinda
established the Dispensation of The Buddha (Buddhasasana) in Sri Lanka
Esala (full moon Poya day
in July)
Commemorates the deliverance of the first sermon to the five ascetics and setting
in motion the Wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammachakka) at Sarnath Benares, India.
The essence of this sermon is the explanation of the Four Noble Truths: The
Noble Truth of Suffering or dissatisfaction or conflicts (Dukkha), the cause
of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path leading to the cessation
of suffering. And The Noble Eight-fold Path.
Nikini (full moon Poya day
in August)
During the month of August the conducting of the first Dhamma Sangayana (Convocation)
is commemorated. This was held three months after the passing away of The Buddha.
Five hundred Arahat Theros participated in the convocation which was held over
seven months in the cave at the foot of the Rajagahanuvara Vebhara Rock
Binara (full moon Poya day
in September)
Commemorates The Buddha's visit to heaven to preach to his mother and celestial
multitude. Also the commencing of the Bhikkhuni (nun's) Order. Pajapati
Gotami approached The Buddha and implored him to establish the Bhikkhuni Order.
Vap (full moon Poya day in
October)
The significant events commemorated during this month are: the conclusion of
The Buddha's preaching of the Abhidhamma for three months to his mother
in the Heavenly realm (devaloka), King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka sending
envoys to King Asoka requesting him to send his daughter Arahat Sanghamitta
Theri to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana (Order of Nuns).
Ill (full moon Poya day in
November)
Celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance of becoming a Buddha) by
the Bodhisatta Maitriya and the commissioning of 60 disciples by The Buddha
to disperse his teachings. Also the conclusion of the three month retreat (vassana).
Unduvap (full moon Poya day
in December)
Arrival of the Bo-tree sapling. This was brought to Sri Lanka from India by
Buddhist Theri Sanghamitta, and it is this very tree that is venerated by Buddhists
in Anuradhapura. It is also the oldest documented tree in the world. Sanghamitta
Theri established the Bhikkhuni Sasana (the Order of Nuns).
Welcome - About Haputale - Guesthouses - Hotels&Bungalows -Restaurants - Internet&IDD - Bus&Train - Taxi&Travel - Sights - Books - Contact - Festivals&Holidays - Flora&Fauna - Holy Places - Links - Maps - Offices - Photos -Schools - Shops - Social Projects - Tea Estates