SRI LANKANS  FESTIVALS 

Sinhala & Tamil New Year  

Sinhalese New Year, generally known as Aluth Avuruddain Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka. It is a major anniversary celebrated by not only the Sinhalese people but by most Sri Lankans. The timing of the SinhalaNew Year coincides with the new year celebrations of many traditional calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The festival has close semblance to the Tamil New Yearand other south and southeast Asia new years. It is a public holiday in Sri Lanka. It is generally celebrated on 13 April or 14 April and traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon.  

Preparations for this great festival begins weeks in advance when families clean and paint their homes, buy new clothes and gifts for family members. A very important purchase is the new clay pot in which the milk will be boiled on New Year’s Day. Traditional sweetmeats such as Kavum (small oil cakes), Kokis (a crisp, crunchy sweetmeat), Aluwa (diamond shaped sweets made of rice flour), mung kavum and many others are also prepared in advance and stored in readiness for the great day. A Cuckoo bird known as Koha is in its mating season around this time and the unique mating call of the male is regarded as the harbinger of this festival.

Being a significant festival to the people of the sri Lankan, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is celebrated with much pomp and fanfare. The transition of the Sun from the House of Pisces to the House of Aries marks the beginning of Aluth Avurudu (in Sinhala) and Puthandu (in Tamil) and is usually celebrated on April 14th every year. The whole island takes on a festive mood as people gear up for the upcoming celebrations by cleaning homes, shopping and making New Year sweetmeats, to begin the New Year on a joyous and positive note.

Mahashivaratri

Devotees of Lord Shiva across the country celebrate padmarajarathri (great night of Shiva) in the month of February with prayers and festivities. Worshippers begin their day with a purification bath, carrying water pots to the temple to bathe the Shiva Linga and then spend the day fasting and meditating at various temples. Some temples like the Sri Kaileshwarar also celebrate with dance and music performances to celebrate this important festival in Sri Lanka. This year the festival will be celebrated on 4th March.

Thai Pongal

Celebrated for 3 days starting from the first day of Thai (the 10th month in Tamil calendar), this is one of the important festivals in Sri Lanka 2019 where families pay tribute to the sun god for a bountiful harvest. The festivities begin by drawing kolams (rangoli) with rice paste in the front yard of houses and boiling milk mixed with rice, jaggery, and spices. The entire family participates in the festivities to pay gratitude to Surya as well as the cattle which play an important role in bringing a good harvest.

Christmas 

It is said that the very first celebration of this festival was perhaps introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese who ruled Sri Lanka and then the Dutch who ruled followed by British who ruled. The festivity spreads through all shopping centers all over the island. Even the small wayside boutiques throughout the country come out with their small festive decor. Christmas trees decorated and lit up are a common sight in shopping complexes and every Christian home.

The 25th of December, the commemoration day of the birth of Jesus Christ, is a public holiday and at the midnight of 24th of December, all the Cathedrals, Churches and little Chapels all over the island become houseful with devotees attending the “Mid Night Mass” to celebrate in union with their fellowmen. Even Christians and non-Christians enjoy themselves to the fullest. Most non-Christians are invited to parties by their Christian friends and Christmas day finds people visiting relatives, friends and neighbors to share with them the seasonal cake and wine followed by a lavish spread lunch and dinner. It continues until the season ends.

PROVINCES (STATES) OF SRI LANKA

In Sri Lanka, Provinces are first level administrative division. They were first established by the British rules of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the 20th century the provinces had become merle ceremonial. This changed in 1987 when, following several decades of increasing demand for a decentralization, 13 TH Amendment to the 1978 constitution of Sri Lanka established Provincial council. Currently there are nine provinces.

After the British took control of the entire island of Ceylon in 1815 it was divided into three ethnic based administrative structures: Low Country Sinhalese, Kandyan Sinhalese and Tamil. In 1829, the British established the Colebrook–Cameron Commission to review the colonial government of Ceylon, including its administrative structures. The Commission recommended that the existing three ethnic based administrations be unified into a single administration divided into five geographic provinces. Accordingly, on 1 October 1833 five provinces under one administration Created.

Central Province – composed of the central Kandyan provinces.

Eastern Province – composed of the maritime districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee, and the Kandyan provinces of Bintenna and Tamankaduwa.

Northern Province – composed of the maritime districts of Jaffna, Mannar and Vanni, and the Kandyan province of Nuwara Kalawiya.

Southern Province – composed of the maritime districts of Galle, Hambantota, Matara and Tangalle, and the Kandyan provinces of Lower Uva, Saffragam and Wellassa.

Western Province – composed of the maritime districts of Colombo, Chilaw and Puttalam, and the Kandyan provinces of Three Korales, Four Korales, Seven Korales and Lower Bulathgama.

Over the next fifty years four additional provinces were created, taking the total number to nine

North Western Province was created in 1845 from northern Western Province 

North Central Province was created in 1873 from southern Northern Province and north-western Eastern Province.

Uva Province was created in 1886 from parts of Central Province, Eastern Province and Southern Province 

Sabaragamuwa Province was created in 1889.

  

List of Provinces (states)

1.             Central Province

2.             Eastern Province 

3.             Northern Province

4.             Southern Province 

5.             Western Province 

6.             North Western Province 

7.             North Central Province

8.             Uva Province

9.             Sabaragamuwa Province 

Flags of Provinces 

Sri Lanka's documented history spans 3,000 years, with evidence of pre-historic human settlements dating back to at least 125,000 years. It has a rich cultural heritage and the first known Buddhist, writings of Sri Lanka, the Pali Canon, date back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC. Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road.Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule as Ceylon.A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century to obtain political independence, which was granted in 1948; the country became a republic and adopted its current name in 1972. Sri Lanka's recent history has been marred by a 26-year civil war, which ended decisively when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

The current constitution stipulates the political system as a republic and a unitary state governed by a semi-presidential system. It has had a long history of international engagement, as a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC), and a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the G77, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Along with the Maldives, Sri Lanka is one of only two South Asian countries rated "high" on the Human Development Index (HDI), with its HDI rating and per capita income the highest among South Asian nations. The Sri Lankan constitution accords Buddhism the "foremost place", although it does not identify it as a state religion. Buddhism is given special privileges in the Sri Lankan constitution.

The island is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population are from the Sinhalese ethnicity, while a large minority of Tamils have also played an influential role in the island's history. Moors, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and the indigenous Vedda are also established groups on the island.

INTRODUCTION ABOUT SRI LANKA DANCES 

 KANDYAN DANCE
The Kandyan Dance is traditionally performed to drum beating only. The most common drum 
the Geta Beraya, which is only used in Kandyan Dance. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm a
small pair of cymbals knows as the Thalampota is also used. The Vannam’s however have lyrics
that are sung in tune with the movements of the dancer. These lyrics sing about the virtues of the
animal that the Vannama is depicting. This form of dance has developed from the period of
Kandyan kings and today is regarded as the national dance of Sri Lanka. The costumes of Kandy
and dancers are striking.

 These lyrics sing about the virtues of the animal that the Vannama is depicting. This form of dance has developed from the period of Kandyan kings and today is regarded as the national dance of Sri Lanka. The costumes of Kandyan dancers are striking.The comes from the Sinhala word varnaThe Kandyan Dance is traditionally performed to drum beating only. The most common drum is the Geta Beraya, which is only used in Kandyan Dance. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm a small pair of cymbals knows as the Thalampota is also used. The Vannam’s however have lyrics that are sung in tune with na. Ancient Sinhala texts refer to a considerable number of vannam that were only sung; later they were adapted to solo dances, each expressing a dominant idea. History reveals that the Kandyan king Sri Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe gave considerable encouragement to dance and music. In this kavikara maduwa there were song and poetry contests.

It is said that the kavi for the eighteen principal vannam were composed by an old sage named Ganithalankara, with the help of a Buddhist priest from the Kandy temple. The vannam were inspired by nature, history, legend, folk art, and sacred lore, and each is composed and interpreted in a certain mood (rasaya) or expression of sentiment. The eighteen classical vannam are,

•  Gajaga Vannama  
•  Thuranga Vannama
•  Mayura Vannama 
•  Gahaka Vannama
•  Uranga Vannam 
• Mussaladi Vannama
• Ukkussa Vannama 
• Vyrodi Vannama 
• Hanuma Vannama 
• Savula Vannama 
• Sinharaja Vannama    
• Kirala Vannama
• Eeradi Vannama
• Surapathi Vannama 
• Ganapathi Vannama
• Uduhara Vannama      
• Assadhrusa Vannama, 

These are the 18 types of Kandyan dance. Originally a vannam (orwannam) was a kind of recitation. Most vannam describe the behavior of animals such as elephants, monkeys, rabbits, peacock, cocks, serpents etc. Later dancers have used the vannam as a background song for their performance. There are 18 vannam in the Kandyan dance form. Traditionally a dancer would have to learn to perform all of these vannam before they would be gifted the ves costume. The most well known among these are the hanuma vannama (monkey), The ukusavannama (engel) and the gajaga vannama (elephant).

LOW COUNTRY DANCE (Pahatharata Natum)

Dances in low country are highly ritualistic. This form of dance is performed to appease evil spirits which cause sickness and is thus called 'Devil Dance'. The dancers wear masks depicting many characters varied in forms of bird, demons, reptiles, etc. There are 18 main dances related to pahatharata style known as the (Sanni Yakuma|Daha Ata Sanniya) held to exorcise 18 types of diseases from the human body.

SABARAGAMU DANCE (Sabaragamu Natum)

The Sabaragamuwa dance tradition is fundamentally a depiction of the rite of worship. The dances

portray rituals intended for the pantheon of gods. The Sabaragamuwa dances are distinguishable because they are sacrosanct performances to invoke blessings from the gods, so that the goodness that comes forth from them will overcome evil. The dancers never raise their hands above their heads; instead, their arms are extended backward at an angle to their bodies. On the other hand, the mandiya is a commonly used position in this dance form, like in the Kandyan and low country dances.

DEVIL DANCE

The “Devil Dances” are an attempt to respond to the common belief that certain ailments are caused by unseen hands and that they should be chased away for the patient to get cured. If an individual or a family is not doing well, the village-folk believe that it’s because that person or the

family is being harassed by unseen hands. A ‘thovil’ ceremony is the answer.The ‘thovil’ can be a simple ritualistic ceremony at home restricted to family and immediate neighbors or involving the whole village like the ‘gam-maduva’ or the ‘devol-maduva’ which is closely linked to the worship     of gods. Masked dancers take part in at least two of the well-known ‘thovil’ ceremonies referred to as the ‘Maha Sohon Samayama’ and the ‘Gara Yakuma’. The mention of ‘Maha Sohona’ frightens the people since he is believed to be the demon of the graveyards.The performer disguises himself as a bear and wears a mask and a dress to resemble one. Often the ‘thovil’ involves the ‘sanni’ dances where all the dancers wear masks. The ‘daha ata sanniya’ refers to sixteen ailments with a demon being responsible for each one of them.Dancers wearing masks take part in processions while at certain ceremonies, masks are used to depict different characters. Of later origin are the masks worn by children and teenagers at street performances during Vesak. Popularly known as ‘olu bakko’ for the simple reason that oversize masks are worn, these performances keep the younger-folk, in particular, entertained.This dance is very famous dance in Sri Lanka.

SIGIRIYA OF SRI LANKA 

Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. 

The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres (660 ft.) high.

According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kashyapa for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure, Sīnhāgiri, the Lion Rock.

The capital and the royal palace was abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.

The distance from the Colombo is 169km.Sigiriya was designated as a world heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is famous for its palace ruins on top of a massive 200-meter-high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures.

The rock itself is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano. It is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescoes), which are like those found at Ajanta Caves in India. It is generally agreed, however, that the Sigiriya Frescoes exhibit a uniquely Sri Lankan style. Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times.

It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees of the Buddhist Sangha. Sigiriya Museum shows photos of the excavation of Sigiriya, reproductions of the frescoes, examples and translations of some of the graffiti on the Mirror Wall, and artifacts excavated from the site. You can probably view the museum in about 1 hour. Since the museum is outside the main entrance.sigiriya has water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, and also terraced gardens.They are located in the western part of the rock and are with a complex hydraulic system, which consists of canals, locks, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains, as well as surface and underground water pumps.

In the rainy season, all channels are filled with water, which begins to circulate through the whole area of Sigiriya. Fountains of Sigiriya built in the V century, perhaps, are the oldest in the world.The best time to visit Sigiriya is February to April and it is good to explore the popular attractions early in the morning or late afternoon when the temperature’s cooler.

• Spring (March through May): 

          The weather gets very hot in March, until May because of the varying temperature and 

          humidity levels.  

• Summer (June-August): 

         One of the best periods to visit Sigiriya, the summer months of June, July & August are usually   

         hot and cloudy.  

• Fall (September-November): 

         The varying temperature very pleasant in Sigiriya. However, in a month, tourism is quite dull   

         during this period. If you don’t mind getting wet, then this is a good time to be in Sigiriya.

•  Winter (December-February): 

          Winter time in Sigiriya is cool at night with the average day temperature rains. this period can 

          be considered the second-best time of the year for tourists.  

Sigiriya rock is also renowned for its 5th century pre-Christian frescoes, which are reminiscent of the paintings of the Ajanta Caves in India. One of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka, it has also been declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Key words of Sigiriya 

1. Sigiriya
2. sinhagiri
3. Sigiriya horario
4. Sigiriya national geographic
5. Sigiriya que hacer
6. Sigiriya que ver
7. Sigiriya rock
8. Sigiriya rock entrance
9. Sigiriya sri lanka
10. Sigiriya tiempo
11. Sigiriya to Kandy
12. Sigiriya village

 Video of Sigiriya Location

Sigiriya is very beautiful place in Sri Lanka.it is a main place of turisum.Considering the uniqueness of Sigiriya UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is an unmatched combination of urban planning, water engineering, horticulture and arts.

INTRODUCTION ABOUT SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian sea. The capital, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a suburb of the commercial capital and largest city.

Sri Lanka is home to many cultures, Languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population are from the Sinhalese ethnicity. while a large minority of tamils have also played an influential role in the island's history. 

RELIGION:70.2% (Buddhism)

                    12.6% (Hinduism)

                    9.7% (Islam)

                    7.4% (christianity)

                    0.1% (other/ none)

The Sri Lanka flag was officially adopted on December 17, 1978. Prior to 1815, the gold lion was originally the national flag of Ceylon; its four pipul leaves are Buddhist symbols and the sword is said to represent authority. On this modern version, the green represents Muslims, while the orange represents HindusThe flag was officially adopted on December 17, 1978. In this version, the green represents Muslims while the orange represents Hindus. The distinguishing mark of the Sri Lankan flag is the golden lion with its right fore-paw holding a sword, giving it the name of ‘Lion Flag’. The lion is set on a crimson background with one golden bo (sacred fig) leaf at every corner. In general, the lion represents bravery, but every design holds a meaning within the golden lion. The curly hair of the lion represents meditation, religious observance and wisdom. The beard represents purity of words; the nose, intelligence; the fore-paws, purity in handling wealth. The sword that the lion holds represents the sovereignty of the country. The handle of the sword stands for the four elements namely air, water, earth and fire.

There are two vertical stripes of the same width and length in green and saffron, the green stripe closer to the hoist, on the left. Between the stripes and the lion, and around them are yellow borders.The crimson background represents the other minority religions and groups, including the European Burghers. It also refers to the country’s rich colonial heritage. The yellow border represents other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Malays.

The Nil Manel (Nymphaea stellata) Blue Water Lily was chosen as the national flower of Sri Lanka in February 1986. The Blue Water Lily of exquisite beauty is a common sight throughout the island. Growing in shallow fresh waters with no season for blooming, the Blue Water Lily thrives wherever lakes, ponds or marsh land is found.

The Sri Lankan national animal is junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), also known as the Ceylon junglefowl, is a member of the Galliformes bird order which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. It is closely related to the red junglefowl (G. gallus), the wild junglefowl from which the chicken was domesticated. The specific name of the Sri Lankan junglefowl commemorates the French aristocrat Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette. In Sinhala, it is known as වළි කුකුළා (wali kukula).

The Ironwood (Na Tree), botanically known as ”Mesua Nagassarium” was declared the National Tree on 26th February 1986.
It was chosen as the National Tree for several reasons.
It is a tree which originated in Sri Lanka
Its utility Historic and cultural importance
Exterior posture Wide distribution
Colour and nature Ability to draw and sketch it easily
This rain forest tree grows to about 30 m high and indigenous to the lower wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Remarkable Features of NA is beautiful bright Red Leaves and finally matured in to a deep green. Timber has a very hardness and durability and used to make bridges in the early times. 
Now it is not allowed to use for timber due to its religious value. The flower of NA is also used in herbal medicine and preparation of perfumes, cosmetics and soaps.
It is believed that the first visit of Buddha was to grove of a NA Tree at Miyanganaya and also the next Buddha (Mithriya) will attain enlightenment under a NA tree.
This is about Introduction of Sri Lanka.