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Friends of either sex will often hold hands in Sri Lanka but this has absolutely nothing to do with sexual preference. It is simply a cute custom quite common in Asia. I recently saw two prison officers leaving the main gaol at Colombo hand-in-hand and I wouldn't have argued with either of them.
Buddhist Monks have a special place in Sinhalese society and should be treated with respect, tourists or introduced. When you do speak try not to be too familiar and always show deference for the Monk and what he represents. Young women should be particular careful of getting too close to a monk, this is not quite as sexist as it might appear, women play a full part in Buddhist observance but the monk should avoid distractions, including sex, so a young woman sitting next to a Monk on a bus for instance is a no-no.Having said this, Monks are not meek in the western sense of the word nor are they as shy and retiring as they might seem. Some senior Buddhist clergy are heavily involved in national politics; they are fiercely proud of their tradition and are by no means a soft touch. The more senior the Monks the more comfortable they can appear in dealing with outsiders and they will often...
Don't do it! In particular don't blow your nose into a hankie or tissue and stick it back into your pocket, I'm told it’s regarded as gross. You can sniff and snort all day and barf like a jackal when you’re cleaning your teeth, but not the hanky business.
Trousers for non-teenage women are quite okay nowadays in Lanka. It's not that they are offending anyone that the older local ladies are not wearing them, it's more a matter of 'modern' vs. 'traditional'. And even in our Colombo neighbours and family at times ladies > 50 wear trousers!Same for T-shirts. The main limitation is when visiting temples and other religious places. Then men _and_ women are supposed to have covered legs (--?> trousers or long skirt), and solely women also covered arms; men can still wear T-shirts there though no tanktops. But this can easily be solved by bringing something extra, and for men in shorts there are even sarongs for hire at the entrance of popular temples.Moreover take care which fabric you take. In the extremely high humidity there, linen and cotton are much more comfortable than clothes with a high polyester/nylon component.
Poya or Poya Day is the name given to a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka which occurs every full moon day. The Full moon is important to Buddhists all around the world, who have adopted the Lunar Calendar for their religious observances. Owing to the moon's fullness of size as well as its effulgence, the full moon day is treated as the most auspicious of the four lunar phases occurring once every lunar month (29.5 days) and thus marked by a holiday.Every full moon day is known as a Poya in Sinhala; this is when a practicing Buddhist visits the Temple for the rituals of worship. There are 12 Poyas for a year. The term poya is derived from the Pali and Sanskrit form uposatha (from upa + vas: to fast) primarily signifying "fast day".Generally shops and businesses are closed on Poya Days, and the sale of alcohol and meat is forbidden.
Alcohol is normally not served during public holidays (Poya days, e.g. full moons), but also during Christmas, with New Year¡'s Eve being an exception. This is the first country in the world in which I saw a warning on Coca Cola bottles: "Not recommended for minors". Most interesting and curageous, though I'm sure Sri Lankans have other thing to bother than health warnings on products. Last but not least.smoking on the streets is forbidden. However, while you'll rarely see any Sri Lankan smoking, the law is rarely applied when it comes to foreigners. Most Sri Lankans are shy enough, while foreigners are usually perceived as a source of cash not to be upset :-))))) We were first told about this law while in remote towns and villages outside the beaten path in the hill country. Under no circumstances smoke in the vicinity of temples or Buddhist monks.
Esala Perahera is very grand with elegant costumes, the most magnificent annual spectacle in Sri Lanka, and one of the most famous in Asia. Happening in July or August in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and richly-decorated elephants. There are fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional 'diya-kepeema'.The Esala Perahera in Kandy is believed to be a fusion of two separate but interconnected "Peraheras" (Processions) – The Esala and Dalada. The Esala Perahera which is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC, was a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the...
According to the legend, the origins of the dance lie in an exorcism ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which was originally performed by Indian shamans who came to the island.According to legend, the Indian shamans came to the island upon the request of a king who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from recurring dream in which a leopard dirrecting its longue towards the king. After the performance of the mysterous dance, the illness vanished, and many natives adopted the dance.It was originally performed by dancers who were identified as a separate caste under the Kandyan feudal system. They were aligned to the Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy) and had a significant role to play in the processions held each year by the temple.The dance waned in popularity as the support for the dancers from the Kandyan kings ended during the...
When you get to know people well you will be invited to family celebrations, one of the most important events in a Sinhalese girl’s life is her ‘coming of age’ which comes with menstruation and is celebrated with a party in the weeks following a girls first period.The woman of the family might take part in various rituals from the time of a girls first period but the party may take place weeks after the event, depending on the auspiciousness of the date, fortune tellers are consulted at most important occasions and horoscopes are quite important in Sri Lanka.Guests bring presents, which seemed to be largely money and jewellery, the party is a happy occasion with an emphasis (particularly amongst the males) on celebrating a girl's emergence into womanhood rather than the physical act of menstruation.
Buddhist festivals tend to take place on full moon or ‘Poya’ days. Busy roads means getting around can sometimes be difficult and no alcohol is officially sold but it can be a great time to be in a Buddhist area as there is usually lots going on and the atmosphere gets very vibrant indeed. The most important Poya overall is Wesak Poya (in May) which celebrates the day on which by tradition the Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and died (or passed into nirvana). The importance of other Poya Days can vary from area to area and visitors to west coast resorts near Kalutara and Aluthgama should watch out for the Posen Poya during June.During the most important Poya days Buddhists will decorate their temples, streets and houses with lanterns, free food and drink is distributed to travellers (including tourists) and the celebrations go on well into the night often for days on end. In...
Mount Lavina Hotel Colombo
5 Reviews and 395 Opinions This is the closest hotel you can experience the Beach as you come to Colombo. Good food, good rooms...
Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy Kandy
4 Reviews and 235 Opinions Kandy Perahara Starts on Esala Full Moon Poya Day in July & finishes on Nikini Full Moon Poya Day on...
Palm Garden Village Hotel Anuradhapura
3 Reviews and 111 Opinions The Palm Garden Village is like a colonial club, but one with a relaxed and freestyle-air. It was...
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Q: Thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka in the end of March for 3 weeks. I will go with my 6 yr old. Will take Medical precoushns bu...
A: Any special reasons why you want to stay in Colombo for 3 days. Everywhere in Sri Lanka is child friendly, but as you want to end up in Trinco (and spend part of your...
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