Nawam Perahera at Gangaramaya Temple – A spectacular display of Sri Lankan tradition

Parades in Sri Lanka are nothing short of truly extraordinary and the Navam Maha Perahera at the Gangaramaya is a fine example of this. Held annually on the day of the Navam Full Moon Poya Day, the parade attracts thousands of devout Buddhists to foreign tourists. If you happen to be staying at a hotel in Colombo during the month of February make sure to attend the parade as it is a wonderful opportunity to witness the cultural and historical splendour of the island. Reputed hotels such as the Mount Lavinia Hotel will be happy to direct and arrange excursions to this event.

This year, the parade was held on the 11th of February and it was featured a spectacular array of cultural displays including the fabulous dancers, a procession of monks clad in colourful robes, and many elephants including the magnificent tusker carrying the sacred relics housed in a casket.