This slide show contains all Items in the collections you selected The Hindu festival of Maha Sivarathri is celebrated in late February or early March. This is the most important religious festival of the year for Hindus. It is a deeply symbolic occasion celebrating the winning of Lord Shiva by his consort Parvati, through the efficacy of penance. All-night poojas are offered in the temples, and devotees keep an all-night vigil by singing bajans and prayers. You can visit any Hindu temples on the night of Mahaivarathri and observe the rituals and invoke blessings. The Medin full moon Poya day is one of the 12 Poyas in the Buddhist calendar. This particular occassion commemorates Buddha visiting his home to preach to his father King Suddhondana and other relatives, revealing the path to enlightenment and final deliverance. On this day, Buddhists in Sri Lanka cease worldly pursuits and engage in religious activities. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. No Masses are said on Good Friday. It commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Golgotha. Catholics’ all over the world including Sri Lankans engage in acts of reparation, penance and fasting starting with Ash Wednesday for 40 days of Jesus’s exile in the desert which was commemorated on 25th February 2009. During Lent Catholics take part in the way of the cross, to remember Jesus’s way of the cross. For more information please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday Sinhala & Tamil New Year is the most important festival for Sinhala & Tamil community in the country. Traditional SriLankan society is based on agriculture and this festival celebrates the harvesting of paddy. The sun has played a major role in bringing their harvest and its importance is being strengthened by this event. The new year dawns when the sun makes its transition from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesh Rahiya (House of Aries) marking the starting of a new cycle according to the astrology. Sinhalese as well as Tamils welcome the Sinhala and Hindu New Year at an auspicious time and carry out all the important activities like first light the hearth, start cooking, eating and anoint oil all at an auspicious time. Commencing work and doing the first business transaction is also part of the traditions. Visiting the relations and friends forgetting all the bad things happened in the previous year is the most important social aspect of the festival. Offering beetle leaves and worshipping the elders also strengthens the links of the traditional srilankan society. There are several games and fun activities to bring the joy of the celebrations. April brings the spring to Nuwara Eliya. The Hill Country town gets live with so many activities in April. Nuwara Eliya is still an arena for horses racing. The Race Course is located in the heart of the town. The Golf Course in Nuwara Eliya which is one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka for playing the game, host many tournaments during this period. Motorcycling, car racing, carnivals and many more festivities are held during April. Victoria park and Haggala Botanical Gardens are other places where interesting events are organised.