Vesak festival is celebrated for many reasons not just by Buddhists but Sri Lankans who belong to other religions by decorating their houses, public places and organizing various cultural events of a celebratory nature throughout the island.

Jetwing Hotels, which is always at the forefront of multi-cultural events in Sri Lanka will also be part of this significant week with offers that will appeal to those who wish to commemorate this festival both spiritually and culturally.

As the Vesak holidays fall on Thursday and Friday this year, Jetwing Hotels provide a tempting four day weekend getaway for family and friends.

A crucial part of the Vesak festival is the Vesak lantern. Jetwing Hunas Falls will be organizing a Vesak Lantern display during the Vesak holidays for its guests both Sri Lankan and foreign.

Another feature of the festival would be ‘Vesak Pandals’. This popular Vesak attraction will be part and parcel of the celebrations at St. Andrews Hotel in Nuwara Eliya as there will be a Pandal exhibition throughout the weekend. The entertainment will also consist of Bhakthi Gee, which are Vesak devotional songs, in the lobby of the hotel on the 27 and 28 May. There will be a special vegetarian dinner buffet corner for the devotees.

However if you are looking for a more intimate religious experience then Jetwing Vil Uyana will be the ideal escape for the spiritually inclined. On the evening of the 27th, there will be an introduction to Vesak, followed with a presentation by the Jetwing Vil Uyana naturalist at Sulang Café and Mock Tails with free Canapes.

Sulang Island will host Bhakthi Gee and thereafter house guests will be the privileged judges of a Vesak Lantern competition organized by the hotel. On the day following Vesak (28 May) Jetwing Vil Uyana has organized a pilgrimage to the Enderagala Wanasenasuna Monastery for a quiet time of meditation with the monks in the monastery. The hotel will provide a vegetarian packed lunch for all the pilgrims at the Enderagala Temple. This is a unique opportunity for the spiritual enthusiast during the Vesak holidays and all who are interested should wind their way down to Jetwing Vil Uyana in Sigiriya during the weekend.

Jetwing Beach in Negombo, also offers a long weekend special during the Vesak holidays. Diverse culinary delights will be on offer during the weekend. The lunch menu will range from seafood or traditional Dutch lamprais to a characteristic Jetwing Beach buffet on the 27 and 28 respectively.

Likewise dinner on the day of Vesak itself will consist of a multi-cultural Vegetarian experience ranging from Indian and Sri Lankan to Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Fabulous offers will be available on Saturday and Sunday for those who wish to partake in the Beach barbeque and the Jetwing Beach Buffet.

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