Colors of Colombo - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Colombo is one of those amazing cities that carefully preserve their historical traditions paying great attention to the modern culture at the same time. This is evidenced by many bright holidays and festivals taking place in the city throughout the year. In 2005, musicians from all over the world took part in WOMAD Sri Lanka Festival of Drums that was held in Colombo for the first time. This musical festival turned out so bright and spectacular that now it is held every year.

Cuisine of Colombo for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe

Colombo’s traditional cuisine is very similar to the classic Indian but with some interesting features. The local menu is based on curry and rice dishes, which have become everyday for …

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The festival invites the most famous and popular musicians who willingly demonstrate spectators enchanting drumming. In just a few years, the WOMAD festival has gained international fame and popularity, now it is regularly visited by at least 100,000 spectators. The venue of the music festival is Galle Face Green, an ocean-side park equipped with large open-air stages. All concerts are absolutely free, so far the festival is attended by musicians from more than ten different countries of the world.

Culinary traditions are an important part of the local culture, so several times a year Colombo hosts a street food festival. Its permanent venue is Hospital Street, which turns into a grandiose open-air restaurant during the festival. Famous chefs from all over the country compete in the preparation of popular dishes, all culinary masterpieces are prepared right in front of the audience. The gastronomic event is very popular with locals and always attracts many tourists. Besides tasting the unique dishes, its visitors can enjoy interesting street performances, concerts, and culinary workshops from leading chefs of Sri Lanka. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Excursion over cultural sights of Colombo - 'must visit' points of interest

One of the most visited areas among visitors to Colombo is the historic Colombo Fort. In the middle of the 16th century, when the city was occupied by the Portuguese, the powerful fortress …

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Along with such modern events, symbolic historical festivals are also held in Colombo. One of the most significant of them is the Duruthu Perahera that was first held in 1927. This festival is dedicated to an important religious event - Buddha's visit to the city, which took place more than 2.5 thousand years ago. During festive days, beautiful solemn processions are organized, interesting ceremonies are held in temples, and the most valuable Buddhist artifacts are presented to the public. The annual festival is full of solemnity and remarkable in that absolutely everyone irrespective of religion can join it.

No less interesting traditions are associated with the veneration of nature in all its manifestations, in particular, with a special attitude to some animals. A cow is a sacred animal for local residents - for this reason, beef dishes are completely absent from local cuisine. In some suburban areas and villages, cows can walk around the city streets freely. It is not customary to chase the animals out of the road, therefore in some large cities, traffic jams often occur because of them. Locals also have a special attitude to monkeys who have a lot of freedom here. There are especially many monkeys on the territory of Buddhist temples and nature reserves.

Your active city break in Colombo. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here

In Colombo, the tourists' favorite promenade is ocean-side Galle Face Green. This urban park stretches along the coast for several kilometers. Today, the most prestigious hotels, …

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Colombo lives the life of a modern, dynamic city, but one has only to go beyond its central streets to discover a lot of interesting features related to the lifestyle of citizens. For local people, fishing has been one of the main livelihoods for many years. Some traditional fishing methods have remained relevant over the centuries.

A great example is stick or stilt fishing. Narrow poles are tied to anchored sticks, on which fishermen sit during fishing. This kind of activity requires certain skills and dexterity. Watching local fisher folks is a very popular entertainment among tourists. Local fishermen considered this fishing method to be one of the most effective. Sitting high above the water, they almost do not cast shadows on its surface, which means that large fish is not frightened.

Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Colombo

1. The best time to visit Colombo is the period from May to September. The air temperature is high all year round, its average value here is about 27 °C. At other times of the year, it …

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Citizens associate a lot of interesting customs with religious traditions, which should be respected by tourists. While walking through the streets one can see local monks who are always dressed in very beautiful traditional clothes. They are commonplace for locals but especially attractive for foreign guests. However, it is not customary to photograph citizens dressed in national clothes, as well as openly demonstrate curiosity towards them. The inhabitants of Colombo are always benevolent and friendly, gladly introducing foreigners to their culture.

This guide to traditions and festivals in Colombo is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

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City tours, excursions and tickets in Colombo and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all churches

Cathedrals and basilicas near Colombo
♥ St. Anthony’s National Shrine, Colombo, 1.9 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Colombo, 2.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta, 14.9 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Ratnapura, 67.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ St. Mary’s Cathedral, Chilaw, 72.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Cathedral of St. Anne, Kurunegala, 83.9 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Colors of Colombo - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

City tours, excursions and tickets in Colombo and surroundings

Colors of Colombo in photos

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Traditions and festivals in cities around Colombo