← Sri Lanka in FebruaryReligious Festival
Nawam Full Moon Perahera (Colombo)
Major Buddhist procession around Beira Lake in central Colombo.
What it is
The Nawam Maha Perahera is organized by the Gangaramaya Temple and parades around Beira Lake and through the streets of central Colombo. It features decorated elephants, traditional dancers, fire performers, and thousands of participants. It runs over two nights and is one of the best cultural spectacles in Colombo. The lakeside setting makes it particularly photogenic.
Tips for visitors
- Best viewed from near the Gangaramaya Temple or Beira Lake
- The second night is usually grander than the first
- Major road closures in central Colombo — use a hotel nearby
Planning a trip in February?
Weather, sea conditions and crowds change a lot through the year. Read our guide to Sri Lanka in February before you book.
Also in February
- National HolidayIndependence DayNational day commemorating independence from British rule in 1948.
- Religious FestivalNavam PeraheraColombo's grandest Buddhist procession at Gangaramaya Temple.
- Religious FestivalMaha ShivaratriHindu night of devotion to Lord Shiva with fasting and all-night prayers.
- Wildlife & NatureLeopard Safari Season (Yala)Best time to spot leopards in Yala — the highest leopard density in the world.
Planning around Nawam Full Moon Perahera (Colombo)?
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