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Vesak is strictly a religious celebration; it commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha, the enlightenment of Lord Buddha and death or "parinirvanaya" of the Buddha. The date is recognized by way of the lunar calendar and is usually in the month of May according to the Gregorian calendar. It is always on the full moon day that falls on the fifth month of the year, but may vary occasionally. The white clad, quiet and subdued devotees of Buddhism don on a completely different appearance during the Vesak week. Colourful lanterns are made with bamboo and kite paper, glittering pandols or 'torana' are made to depict one of the 550 jathaka stories or previous lives of the Gauthama Buddha using tiny light bulbs and beautiful illustrations. Buddhists who strongly believe in the merit of dhana or donating joyously get involved in the free food stalls that are seen around every corner and close to every pandol. The generous benefactors are thrilled to see the long queues of people that turn out. These stands serve various food and drink items; some serve rice and curry, tapioca, noodles, while some others serve soft drinks, soups, broths and even water to help people quench their thirst on their long jaunts to see the vivid creations that decorate the townscape. Lorry loads of people flock to areas that have many of these pandols and food stands, to be a part of the celebrations. Getting about becomes quite cumbersome as there are thousands of vehicles on the road and some areas pedestrians take to the roads to listen intently to the old religious tales that are described at pandols and to see the quick acts, puppet shows and unique lanterns on the road. The celebrations are never confined to any one area and therefore all the Sri Lanka hotels will also join in the merriment by adorning their buildings with lanterns and lights. The Sri Lanka beach hotels, especially along the west coast tend to be less crowded during this season, therefore it is a good time to pay a visit to a place such as the Heritance Ahungalla which offer an idyllic coastal escape. Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
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