Vesak Festival
Vesak, the full moon in May, marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing. Colombo glows with lanterns, giant pandols and free food stalls called dansal.
Vesak falls on the full moon of the Sinhala month of Vesak, usually in May, and it is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. It marks three events in the Buddha's life: his birth, his enlightenment and his passing away. In Sri Lanka the whole country lights up for it.
During the day, devotees dressed in white go to the temple, bring flowers and oil lamps, and many observe sil (the eight precepts). After dark the streets change completely. Homes and shops hang Vesak kudu, lanterns made from bamboo and coloured paper, and neighbourhoods build huge pandols (thorana), illuminated panels several storeys high that tell stories from the Buddha's past lives with lights, music and narration.
The other thing you will see everywhere is the dansala, a free food stall run by local groups. Volunteers hand out rice and curry, noodles, ice coffee, ice cream and drinks to anyone passing, and people queue up and down the road. Bhakti gee singers perform carols on decorated lorries and stages.
In Colombo, the area around Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malakaya and Beira Lake is lit with lantern displays, and large pandols go up across the city. Roads are crowded until late, so walking is easier than driving. On Vesak, as on every Poya day, liquor sales stop, and most meat shops close too.
At a glance
- When: Usually in May
- Duration: Vesak Poya and the following days (about a week of lights)
- Venue: Homes, temples and villages across Sri Lanka
- Organizer: Temples and community groups
- Entry: Free