5 Customs Only Sri Lankans Can Understand

Sri Lanka is a land of mystery. Its history, culture and traditions remain, even today, to be some of the most exquisite yet alien to the world. Some say that one simply has to be Sri Lankan in order to understand Sri Lankan customs. Here are just a few of them, explained.

Commemorating a girl’s first menstruation

Once a girl has her first period, she is locked in a room in the house, away from the eyes of males – even her own father and brothers – and kept there with a female relative until an assigned time and day. On that auspicious day, the girl is covered from head to toe in a white cloth and escorted outside to a specially made hut, where she is be bathed in herb-infused water and sprinkled with white flowers by either the family washer woman or the girl’s mother. After bathing, the girl lights an oil lamp, worships her elders and is gifted new clothes and gold jewellery. All this is then followed by a grand celebration where one eats, drinks and makes merry.
In old Sri Lanka, this tradition declared to the world that the household has a marriageable daughter and invite potential suitors. Today, the tradition continues as a mere relic to symbolise the young girl’s ascension into womanhood.

Checking the bride’s virginity

Pregnancy cravings are not to be ignored

It is considered ill luck to leave an expectant mother’s cravings (dola-duka) unsatisfied, to the point that ignoring them is believed to physically affect the unborn baby. A pregnant woman is to be kept happy and needing for nothing up until she delivers the baby.

Keeping the doors open after funerals

It is believed that a home’s doors must not be closed until the seventh day after a funeral because the passed spirit wanders the house in which its body was kept and must therefore have free exit from the house at any time, lest it be trapped in the house. Additionally, a body must never be left alone until after it is buried or cremated, so it’s common for at least one person to keep vigil alongside the body at any given time.

Thovil (Sri Lankan exorcism)

In rural areas of Sri Lanka, some people believe that sickness is a result of malevolent spirits inhabiting a body; to remedy this, a nightlong ceremony called a thovil is conducted for the patient, who is seated on a mat covered with white cloth. These colourful ceremonies are complete with ‘devil dancers’ wearing devil masks and waving torches, bonfires as well as traditional song and dance accompanied by beating drums. The devil dancers perform for the patient, and lively conversation (funny and whimsical at times) ensues. It is believed that whatever demons inhabiting the patient’s body flees in terror of the devils dancing before it. Thovil is considered to be one of the most colourful forms of exorcism in the world.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.