May the force be with you!
Sri Lanka takes the cake when it comes to the diversity of its people; and the best thing about this is the number of festivals and holidays that dot the calendar. So say ‘hello’ to a series of work free days from March to May!
We honour Hindu god Shiva on Maha Shivaratri, which falls on 8 March. This festival is celebrated with colourful parades of decorated chariots and people dressed to impress. The parades are accompanied by the sound of bells, bhajans and drums.
Muslims will begin fasting around 10 March in preparation for Ramadan, which is expected to be on 9 April. But whether you fast or not, you’ll surely enjoy a month of falooda, samosa, biryani and watalappam.
You are bound to experience culinary diversity as well since along with the Middle Eastern inspired delights that you’ll be devouring, you will no doubt be tempted by the Easter goodies that will also come your way.
To be celebrated this year on 31 March, Easter Sunday will see Colombo’s hotels and restaurants displaying a tempting array of hot cross buns, Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, cupcakes, cookies, candy, and a range of seasonal hams and roasts.
And when you thought you’d start eating healthily again, you’ll welcome the sweet laden holiday extravaganza that is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Indulge in Sri Lanka’s traditional sweetmeats that include kevum, kokis, aasmi and so on – and perhaps sweat off the calories with some Aluth Avurudu games (no, we don’t mean the online ones)!
When May arrives, you might feel as if you could get some work done. But wait… we start with a midweek holiday! So ‘May the force be with you!’ throughout this sunny month. You know that you’ll make the most of it, fun-wise – and hopefully, work-wise too.
With Mother’s Day falling on 12 May, we’re bound to see an abundance of flowers, cakes, chocolates and greeting cards. Try and go beyond the usual gift items and give that special person something that will make an impression.
And don’t forget that mums don’t only give birth… they play the role of mother in so many ways…
We end the month with Vesak – and you’ll love the extended holiday… to paint the town red (and blue, white, orange and yellow too) with lanterns, Vesakbuckets and pandals.
Diversity is awesome – so let’s live it up!