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Festival Name
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Description
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Kandy Esala Perahera:
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Held in July/August.
Most important and spectacular pageant, with 10 days of torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers, drummers and elephants.
Climaxes in great procession honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy.
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Duruthu Perahera:
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Celebrates in January, Colombo.
Celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka.
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National Day:
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Held in February.
Celebrated with parades, dances and national games
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New Year:
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Celebrates in March/April.
Celebrated with elephant races, coconut games and pillow fights.
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Vesak:
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Celebrates in May.
Commemorates the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha.
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Vel:
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Celebrates in July/August, Colombo
Must see : the ceremonial chariot of Skanda, the God of War hauled between two temples;
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Kataragama:
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Celebrates in July/August, Kataragama
Devotees put themselves through the whole gamut of ritual masochism.
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