Visit Kelaniya & Watch the Perahera

Every year, at the pre-full moon day of January or ‘Duruthu Poya’ the streets of Kelaniya come alive with one of Sri Lanka’s most vibrant and ancient peraheras, the Kelaniya Perahera. This perahera, also known as the Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera, is held in commemoration of Lord Buddha’s very first visit to the country.

The Hotel J, a premier among luxury Negombo Hotels, is an option to consider as it is located just approximately 36 minutes away from the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya where the procession begins from.

This year, the Kelaniya Perahera paraded the streets on the 2nd of this month with the final day, the grand “Randoli Perahera”, parading on the 3rd. The parade comprised of nearly 60 elephants and featured a range of colorful and lively traditional Sri Lankan dance performances.