If you’re in Sri Lanka in August, there are a couple of things worth seeing.  The closest to our heart is the Elephant Gathering in Minneriya National Park – we LOVE elephants when they’re roaming free in protected areas 🙂

On the other side of the island in early August is the Madhu Church festival, which is a huge draw for Sri Lankan catholics and very interesting to see. Thousands of Catholic devotees flock from all over the island to the Church premises to celebrate the day of assumption of the hallowed Virgin Mary.

Festivities begin after a ceremonial hoisting of the flag and religious observances. Sermons held in both Sinhala and Tamil, and the same with high masses, usher offer praise. The shrine of the Virgin Mary is carried on the shoulders of her followers in and around the Church premises in an immense procession. Throughout the duration of this procession, crowds can be heard reciting the Rosary and singing hymns. Time and time again “Hail Marys” and “Amens’ rise harmoniously into the air, in admiration of their idol.

The celebrations continue for up to ten days, with food, garment, cutlery and many more vendors entertaining the crowds that linger on for as long as the festivities last. This is probably a day visit as places to stay in Mannar are few and far between.  Mind you, just a 2.5 hours from Jaffna and a couple of hours from Anuradhapura, you can combine some very interesting sight seeing and Mannar itself gives you access to a lesser developed Sri Lanka.