Nuwara Eliya Events and Festivals

Nuwara Eliya celebrates all of Sri Lanka’s popular religious festivals and national holidays as well as having some events that it enjoys exclusively. April is a busy month for the city with countless sporting and cultural events taking place at this time. If you plan on scheduling your trip for April, then be sure to book accommodation well in advance as the city can get overrun with visitors. As is the case with the rest of the country, the day on which the lunar cycle is complete is a time for celebration and is marked by a public holiday.

Tamil Thai Pongal Day: Tamils in Nuwara Eliya celebrate this ancient festival over a period of four days. Families and friends come together for the eating of traditional foods and to enjoy outings to parks and nature spots.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day: the full moon is celebrated with a public holiday for all in Nuwara Eliya.

Maha Shivratri: Nuwara Eliya’s Hindu residents pay tribute to Lord Shiva by fasting, holding night-long vigils and making offerings of bael leaves. The date of the festival varies according to the Hindu calendar.

Navam Full Moon Poya Day: the full moon is marked by a public holiday in Nuwara Eliya, and residents typically make offerings at temples at this time.

Medin Full Moon Poya Day: a public holiday occurs on the full moon, during which time residents of Nuwara Eliya refrain from drinking alcohol and pay visits to temples.

Milād an-Nabī: Muslims in Nuwara Eliya celebrate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed with enthusiastic festivities.

Hindu and Sinhala New Year: this is the biggest event in the Sri Lanka’s calendar and Nuwara Eliya celebrates this day as enthusiastically as the rest of the country. The event falls on the 13^th of April and coincides with a wealth of other events and celebrations that the city enjoys during the month.

Horse Races at Nuwara Eliya: the city’s racecourse is the setting for a variety of horseracing events during the month of April. In previous years, the list of race meetings has included the Governor's Cup, Labookelle Cup, Upali Wijewardene Kandos Cup, Nescafe Cup, Sporting Times Trophy, Sumathi Cup and Sunquick Cup.

Motor Racing: the Mahagastotte and Radella Hill Climbs, Nuwara Eliya Road Race and the 4X4 Lake Cross on the edge of Lake Gregory are all held during April. Expect large turn-outs in terms of spectator support.

Other Events: Nuwara Eliya hosts a wide selection of events during April. Aside from horse and motor racing, there is a golf tournament, Healthy Baby Competition, Annual Flower Show, Carnival and School Band Display.

Vesak: Buddhists in Nuwara Eliya celebrate the three most auspicious events in the life of the Buddha, those being his birth, enlightenment and achievement of Nirvana. Locals attend religious rites and light bamboo and crepe paper lanterns.

Poson Full Moon Poya Day: the full moon is marked with a public, when residents of Nuwara Eliya visit temples and make religious offerings.

Esala Full Moon Poya Day: is a public holiday that sees Nuwara Eliya locals making offerings at temples and refraining from the consumption of alcohol.

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day: a national holiday, the full moon is observed in Nuwara Eliya. Locals typically make merit at temples on this day.

Binara Full Moon Poya Day: a nationwide public holiday is observed on the day of the full moon. Expect lots of religious activity at the temples in Nuwara Eliya on this day.

Ramadan: Nuwara Eliya’s Muslim residents observe the period of Ramadan, a month-long affair in which followers fast and abstain from sexual activity. Muslim-owned businesses in Nuwara Eliya may operate limited hours during this time.

Diwali: this highly significant Hindu festival marks Lord Rama’s triumph over evil as well as paying tribute to the goddess Lakshmi.

Eid ul-Fitr: Nuwara Eliya’s Muslim residents kick back a little after the month of abstinence known as Ramadan. Lively celebrations are held with family and friends.

Christmas Day: despite only a small Christian community, Christmas is still celebrated in Nuwara Eliya. Various places in the town are decorated and the 25^th of the month is designated a public holiday.