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Sri Lanka Vesak Festival

Venue: Around the country

Date: 12th May 2025

 

Vesak is the main Buddhist religious festival in Sri Lanka. During this time, people celebrate the triple anniversary of Lord Buddha—his birth, his attainment of Enlightenment, and his passing away into Nirvana. Known as the Buddhist Festival of Light, colorful bamboo-framed lanterns adorn the interior of every home, and incredible luminous displays decorate the streets of most towns. Visit Bhauddoloka Mawatha, the main street in Colombo, to experience this glowing spectacle in full glory.

Vesak marks the first month of the Buddhist Calendar. It is a day spent in reflective prayer, as people cease worldly pursuits and engage in religious activities. Devotees pray in temples from dawn until dusk. As the sun sets, devotees partake in processions and return to temples in the evening to hear monks read stories from sacred texts.

Stalls on the roadside distribute free refreshments to passers-by, and there are fantastic mime and street theatre performances staged on tall platforms near temples in cities and towns throughout the country.



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