The Vesak Festival (usually in May), is the most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. Over two-and-a-half thousand years ago in northern India, Gautama was born, attained Enlightenment, and passed away, on the day of the month, separated by some 80 years and Buddhists all over the world celebrate the three events on Vesak day. All over the country, temples, in the villages, and in the cities, announce the dawn of Vesak, with peals of bells, and drum beats.







Many temples are filled with Atasil devotees and pilgrims all over Sri Lanka to mark this great event. The devout, clad in pure white, with no make-up or jewelry, make their way to the temple, to spend the next twenty four hours in quiet contemplation. While the rest of the village, gather at the temple grounds after sunset to participate in lesser religious activities, like reading of holy books, or listen to the saffron clad monk relate ancient stories from Lord Buddha's previous lives.

Simple candle-lit lanterns like these that seem to fascinate these youngsters, made with bamboo frames and covered with colored transparent paper adorn every house, for Vesak, is a muted celebration as well. A festival of great piety and sanctity which focuses on the virtual of compassion to all living creature, it is also one of much colour and gaiety, with street, homes and public places decorated with beautiful and finely decorated hand-made paper lanterns small and big and glittering with illuminations, pandols depicting the different occurrences in the life of the Buddha or his previous births etc.




Mass observance of sill
(A highly disciplined conduct in accordance with Buddhist precepts) and wayside temporary erections (dansal) to dispense free and drink to passer-by, are features of this festival.