The Spectacular Duruthu Maha Perahera of Kelani Temple – Celebrating the first ‘Poya’ day of the year

According to the Buddhist religious calendar in Sri Lanka, every full moon of the month or ‘poya day’, marks a significant event in the Buddha’s lifetime. The first full moon of the year, known as Duruthu Poya, celebrates the arrival of the Buddha to the country and is marked with a procession known as the Duruthu Maha Perahera. Held at the historical Kelani Temple, the procession is not only a deeply cultural event, but also a tourist attraction. For travellers new to Sri Lanka, holidays are usually spent near the coast or up in the hill country. Cultural events such as these are promoted by big travel operators like Nkar Travel House, for example, as a way to introduce Sri Lankan culture to foreigners. The symbolic procession includes traditional drummers, dancers, acrobats and even a few elephants, draped in finery.