One of the biggest festivals in Colombo is the celebration of Buddha’s Birth. Every May hordes of Sri Lankans flock here for the lively festivals that go on all week, complete with lantern compeittions, delicious treats, and all kinds of entertainmnet.

March is the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts, and Dance) Festival of Drums, which draws talented master drummers and percussionists from all over the world. The event celebrates the island’s association with drums, which goes back more than 2,500 years, and features 14 performance groups from 12 countries.

In nearby Kandy , July and August is considered festival season, called Esala. Toward the end of Esala on the full moon day, the Kandy Esala Perahera takes place. This 10-day medieval celebration is the biggest and best of the year, with dancers, processions, torch-bearers and animals. It is broken down into several smaller festivals during the 10 days, starting with Kumbal Festival on July 31, followed by the Randoli Festival, the Grand Festival, and the Day Festival. These celebrations come to a peak when the relic of Buddha is carried through the streets along with a procession of 100 elephants, musicians, and dancers.