Vesak — the day commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha — is Sri Lanka's most spectacular public celebration. For three days, the entire country lights up: temples are illuminated with thousands of bulbs, elaborate pandols (illuminated tableau displays telling Buddhist stories) stand at major intersections, paper lanterns hang from every house, and free food and drink (dansal) is offered to all passersby by community groups. In Colombo, the pandols are enormous — ten-storey animated light displays attracting crowds who travel specifically to photograph them.
The pandols in Colombo are the main spectacle — the best ones are in the Borella, Maradana, and Kelaniya areas. The Kelaniya Temple, 11km from Colombo, is the most important Buddhist site for Vesak. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming to non-Buddhist visitors.