Visiting Duruthu Perahera in Kelaniya (january 2017)

I intend to visit the Duruthu Perahera in Kelaniya on my coming Sri Lanka trip. Did already some research but still have some questions.

• Anyone knows the exact dates? Looked at a lunar calender and saw that full moon will be at january 12th. Read that there are like three days of processions and will take place about three days in advance before full moon day, will this be january 9th till 11th or other dates?
• Are all three days worth visiting or more or less the same?
• Are there budget hotels/guesthouses in or near Kelaniya (don’t need/want expensive hotels)? Recommendations? Do I have to make a reservation in advance? Also reservations for a place/seat at the festival or can you see/visit it just from the street?
• Before january 10th I also have to extend my visa at the immigration which seems to be quite close to Kelaniya. Will the office be closed on full moon day or days before?

Thanks answering in advance.

Harry

Hi,
quite a list of questions.. :-) Yes, the perahera will start 3days before the full moon poya day. The final perahera parade is on the full moon poya day and it is the main perahera. Government Offices are closed on full moon poya days and mercantile holidays. It will be open otherwise.There are budget hotels near kelaniya. Like in kiribathgoda, kadawatha, manel gama and thorana junction. Also you can see the perahera while you are on street. There are temporary seating arrangements too nearby the temple. Hope you enjoy the visit in sri lanka. By the way the perahera is devoted to celebrate the first visit of lord buddha to sri lanka.

Just to let you know, visited the Duruthu Perahera and it was great. But also the two nights before there are smaller peraheras which are worthwhile visiting. For the main event I could easily buy a ticket for a seat the day before at the office at the temple. These seats were not numbered (although the tickets were) so I went early and got a seat in the first row at one the main stands just in front of the cameras. Not half of the seats were occupied in this part of the stands.

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