WHAT’S ON

Bentota Perahera Festival

HIGHLIGHTS
Live Music, Fire Juggling, Elephant Parade
DATE
20 Dec 2021 - 28 Dec 2021Add to Calendar 2021-12-20 16:00:00 2021-12-28 18:00:00 Title Description Location Centara Hotels and Resorts [email protected] UTC public

Perahera is an annual highlight of the Buddhist calendar in Sri Lanka. The Bentota Perahera takes place at the end of December and is similar to the celebrations of the Perahera in Kandy, though on a lesser scale. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ translates to ‘parade’. So, wherever you celebrate this festival, you can look forward to feasting your eyes on a spectacular procession of traditional dancers, singers and musicians.

 

Bentota Perahera

If you’re planning to attend the Perahera Festival in Bentota, prepare yourself to experience a riot of colour and choreography. In addition to traditional performers, you’ll see elephants, torch-bearers, fire jugglers and tom-tom beaters. The captivating parade tends to take place late in the evening, typically between 11 pm and 1 am.

The parade usually begins at the Galapatha Temple and progresses along the Galle Road towards Colombo. After 3-4km, the parade turns around and makes its way back towards the temple. Grab your spot along the Galle Road for the best views.

Bentota Perahera Festival

Getting to Bentota

Situated on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, Bentota is within easy travelling distance of Colombo. The easiest way to reach the area is by bus – there are air-conditioned buses that run from Colombo Fort to Galle that stop in Bentota. Expect the journey to take around an hour and a half. If you’re traveling by train, most trains stop at Aluthagma – 2km from Bentota. Fewer trains stop at Bentota Station itself.

Bentota Perahera Festival
Bentota Perahera Festival
20 Dec 2021 - 28 Dec 2021Add to Calendar 2021-12-20 16:00:00 2021-12-28 18:00:00 Title Description Location Centara Hotels and Resorts [email protected] UTC public

Perahera is an annual highlight of the Buddhist calendar in Sri Lanka. The Bentota Perahera takes place at the end of December and is similar to the celebrations of the Perahera in Kandy, though on a lesser scale. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ translates to ‘parade’. So, wherever you celebrate this festival, you can look forward to feasting your eyes on a spectacular procession of traditional dancers, singers and musicians.

 

Bentota Perahera

If you’re planning to attend the Perahera Festival in Bentota, prepare yourself to experience a riot of colour and choreography. In addition to traditional performers, you’ll see elephants, torch-bearers, fire jugglers and tom-tom beaters. The captivating parade tends to take place late in the evening, typically between 11 pm and 1 am.

The parade usually begins at the Galapatha Temple and progresses along the Galle Road towards Colombo. After 3-4km, the parade turns around and makes its way back towards the temple. Grab your spot along the Galle Road for the best views.

Bentota Perahera Festival

Getting to Bentota

Situated on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, Bentota is within easy travelling distance of Colombo. The easiest way to reach the area is by bus – there are air-conditioned buses that run from Colombo Fort to Galle that stop in Bentota. Expect the journey to take around an hour and a half. If you’re traveling by train, most trains stop at Aluthagma – 2km from Bentota. Fewer trains stop at Bentota Station itself.