| As the fanfare of the festive season has
| |
| | holidays, such as the Sri Lankan New
|
| died down, it is easy to feel the need to
| |
| | Year, celebrated every year between 12-14
|
| get away from the cold British winter and
| |
| | April, to ensure good fortune in the
|
| experience some sun. For a luxury holiday
| |
| | coming year. Amongst the traditional
|
| offering the requisite sunrays as well as
| |
| | rituals undertaken, houses are spring
|
| excellent cuisine, views and different
| |
| | cleaned, new clothes worn and newly
|
| festivals throughout the year, look no
| |
| | harvested rice cooked in milk in new
|
| further than Sri Lanka.
| |
| | pots. Traditional games and music are
|
| Sri Lanka, officially known as the
| |
| | enjoyed, and passing visitors are
|
| Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
| |
| | invariably invited to join in the
|
| Lanka, is an island nation in South Asia,
| |
| | celebrations. These are merely some of
|
| located about 19 miles off the southern
| |
| | the many festivals held throughout the
|
| coast of India. With a population of
| |
| | year, with further information being
|
| around 20 million, the country is a
| |
| | available from the Sri Lanka Tourist
|
| multi-religious and multi-ethnic, with
| |
| | Board.
|
| nearly a third of the population
| |
| | Apart from the festivals themselves, Sri
|
| following faiths other than Buddhism,
| |
| | Lanka can offer travellers the sights
|
| most notably Christianity, Hinduism and
| |
| | belying its rich heritage, such as the
|
| Islam. This multiculturalism can in part
| |
| | Temple of the Tooth, situated in the
|
| be attributed to the different rules of
| |
| | central city of Kandy, included in the
|
| Sri Lanka, including colonisation by
| |
| | UNESCO World Heritage List. It houses a
|
| Portugal, the Netherlands and finally
| |
| | tooth that came from the mouth of Lord
|
| Great Britain. After peaceful
| |
| | Buddha, and is as a result considered one
|
| negotiations with the British, the island
| |
| | of Sri Lanka's most holy shrines. Kandy
|
| nation became independent in 1948, and in
| |
| | is also home to the Pinawela Elephant
|
| 1972, the nation, then-known as Ceylon,
| |
| | Orphanage, a national sanctuary for about
|
| changed its name to Sri Lanka, meaning
| |
| | 70 semi-tame elephants, allowed to roam
|
| "Resplendent Land".
| |
| | freely around the orphanage, with bathing
|
| As a result of the multi-religious
| |
| | and feeding times being highlights for
|
| background, Sri Lanka is renowned for its
| |
| | tourists. Other cities popular with
|
| many religious festivals. Sri Lanka
| |
| | tourists include Anuradhapura and
|
| offers at least one festival each month
| |
| | Polonnaruwa.
|
| as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and
| |
| | In addition, the cuisine is considered
|
| Muslims celebrate both religious and
| |
| | some of the finest in the region. In
|
| national occasions. This month, for
| |
| | general the food is excellent value, with
|
| example, the full-moon festival of
| |
| | the most expensive tourist-oriented
|
| Dututhu commemorates the visit of Lord
| |
| | places rarely charging over the
|
| Buddha to Kelankya, the temple of
| |
| | equivalent of US$20 for a meal. The
|
| Kelania. The Hindu community meanwhile
| |
| | staple Sri Lankan diet consists of rice
|
| celebrates the harvest festival of Thai
| |
| | and curry. A must-try dish is Kottu Roti;
|
| Pongal, where homes are cleaned and
| |
| | a medley of chopped roti (bread),
|
| decorated, farm animals bathed and
| |
| | vegetables and your choice of meat, a
|
| sometimes adorned, and special dishes
| |
| | uniquely Sri Lankan dish and best served
|
| prepared. The sizeable Muslim community
| |
| | when made fresh by street vendors. Please
|
| celebrate the end of the fasting month of
| |
| | note that while Sri Lankans eat with
|
| Ramadan, roughly every 11 months, with
| |
| | their right hands, cutlery is available
|
| prayers in mosques, distribution of alms,
| |
| | at all eateries.
|
| family-oriented celebrations and the
| |
| | So why not book a holiday in Sri Lanka
|
| enjoyment of traditional dishes. In
| |
| | and see for yourself why it is referred
|
| addition, there are several national
| |
| | to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean?
|
