Local Customs: Budusarani

Buddhism is integral to who the Sinhalese are as a people and they take it very seriously indeed so its important to show some respect when visiting a temple but don’t let this put you off, Buddhism is an open religion, you will be welcome and the locals will not be looking to catch you out and any honest mistakes are politely overlooked. In large temples, which you may visit as part of an organised tour simply follow the crowd and you should be fine, but in a small local temple you will be a point of interest so it’s useful to learn a little etiquette. Don’t enter a temple in beach wear (would you go into a church with your backside hanging out?) Remove your shoes and hat. Walk round the central features in a clockwise direction. Images of the Buddha and Monks are shown the same respect that would be shown to the Buddha himself, so it is important not to deliberately turn your back on either and you should ask before taking photographs. If you speak to a Buddhist Monk you aren't expected to know the intricate ritual and particular terms of address applied by the Sinhalese, you can address him as Sadu or ‘Reverend’. Don’t attempt to shake hands unless one is offered. If you want to go the whole hog you can bend down and touch his toes before coming up with your hands together but this isn't expect of a foreigner. Off the beaten track you probably won’t be asked for a donation but one will be appreciated and will earn you merit so ask if there is somewhere you can make the donation, there’s usually a box in the shrine room, if there isn’t offer your notes to an attendant (in front of the monk) or directly to the monk with both hands to show that it is freely given. Evangelical organisations are currently attempting to convert the people to Christianity and this doesn’t go down too well in the Buddhist community so any respect you pay to Sinhalese culture during your visit will be genuinely appreciated and this is as true in the temple as anywhere.

Local Customs: Blowing your nose in public

Don't do it! In particular don't blow your nose into a hankie or tissue and stick it back into your pocket, I'm told it’s regarded as gross. You can sniff and snort all day and barf like a jackal when you’re cleaning your teeth, but not the hanky business.

Local Customs: Monks and Modesty (but not meekness)

Buddhist Monks have a special place in Sinhalese society and should be treated with respect, tourists or introduced. When you do speak try not to be too familiar and always show deference for the Monk and what he represents. Young women should be particular careful of getting too close to a monk, this is not quite as sexist as it might appear, women play a full part in Buddhist observance but the monk should avoid distractions, including sex, so a young woman sitting next to a Monk on a bus for instance is a no-no.Having said this, Monks are not meek in the western sense of the word nor are they as shy and retiring as they might seem. Some senior Buddhist clergy are heavily involved in national politics; they are fiercely proud of their tradition and are by no means a soft touch. The more senior the Monks the more comfortable they can appear in dealing with outsiders and they will often have connections with Buddhist communities in the west. Incidently, once you become friends with a Monk the formality stops but its still good to show respect in public.Anyone is welcome to visit a Buddhist temple, if this is new to you please read my tip on the subject.

Local Customs: Men Holding Hands

Friends of either sex will often hold hands in Sri Lanka but this has absolutely nothing to do with sexual preference. It is simply a cute custom quite common in Asia. I recently saw two prison officers leaving the main gaol at Colombo hand-in-hand and I wouldn't have argued with either of them.

Local Customs: Religious Diversity in Sri Lanka

Diversity is the name of the game in Sri Lanka and this is certainly true with regards to faith. Take the small town of Rakwana for example, in addition to the Buddhist and Hindu Temples there is a Mosque and two Churches (one Anglican and one Roman Catholic). Approximately 69 percent of the Sri Lankan population is Buddhist, 15 percent Hindu, 8 percent Christian, and 8 percent Muslim.Buddhists tend to live in the west and south of the island and the Hindus in the north. Other areas are often mixed but individual villages or neighbourhoods tend to be one religion or another, for example, Negombo is predominantly Christian, Beruwala Muslim and Bentota Buddhist. People do mix, a Buddhist friend of mine recently became engaged to a Christian boy, they are both Sinhalese (other matches are not so common) for the most part there is a symbiotic relationship between faith and cultural identity in Sri Lanka. In the west, Hindu Gods are often worshiped in a special area of Buddhist Temples, this is not the case in certain parts of the north. Visitors are welcome to attend Christian services (if you are there at Christmas midnight mass can be magical) and you are also welcome at Buddhist Temples, there is sometimes a different approach at the Mosque.Off the beaten track you can take a guess at the religion of the village you are passing through by the animals running around the place, if it is just hens and the odd dog you are likely to be in a Buddhist area, goats usually means Muslims and if there are pigs there are Christians around somewhere. If you want to know more about religion in Sri Lanka have a look at the U.S. State Department website below.

Local Customs: Left - Right

The left hand is considered unclean so you should not use it for handling food (yours or anyone elses). If you have to pass anything else to someone use either your right hand (or both if is something heavy).

Local Customs: Buddhist Festivals

Buddhist festivals tend to take place on full moon or ‘Poya’ days. Busy roads means getting around can sometimes be difficult and no alcohol is officially sold but it can be a great time to be in a Buddhist area as there is usually lots going on and the atmosphere gets very vibrant indeed. The most important Poya overall is Wesak Poya (in May) which celebrates the day on which by tradition the Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and died (or passed into nirvana). The importance of other Poya Days can vary from area to area and visitors to west coast resorts near Kalutara and Aluthgama should watch out for the Posen Poya during June.During the most important Poya days Buddhists will decorate their temples, streets and houses with lanterns, free food and drink is distributed to travellers (including tourists) and the celebrations go on well into the night often for days on end. In towns there are dazzling electrical tableau’s or ‘pandles’ each carrying a message outlining the long term benefits of living a good life.

Local Customs: A sweet tooth

Home made jaggery

Sri Lankan people love their sweets and one of their favourites is jaggery (a sort of fudge like confection extracted from the kitul palm) which is still made in the traditional fashion from local ingredients. It is eaten as it comes or used to sweeten puddings etc.

Local Customs: Good Neighbours

There is still a strong sense of community in Sri Lanka particularly in the villages, where families are often related by blood or marriage. When the roof of this old lady’s house was broken by the Monsoon rains the boys of the village all turned out the next morning to repair the damage.

Local Customs: 'Sri Lankan Bubble Gum'

Some Sri Lankan men (and very occasionally women) will chew beetle leaf, often with different kinds of nut and other plant extracts including a pink paste which turns the mouth red, it has a mildly narcotic effect. Labourers appear to use it to pass the time away during monotonous tasks and I have been offered beetle at weddings and funerals so in some village areas it seems to be reasonably acceptable (although most of my friends don’t use it at home). It is popular with some Buddhist Monks (who are not supposed to drink alcohol or smoke)Observant Monks do not eat after midday and this stuff suppresses the appetite. I have spent some very mellow evenings chewing beetle with the monks in Sri Lankan Temples.I was told it can be addictive and if you are not used to chewing this stuff it has an effect on the inside of your mouth similar to paint stripper. If you do decide to try it you should do it with someone who knows what they are doing as there is something of an art to it. The leaf is no big problem but the paste is strong and you only need the slightest smear on the leaf, you should not try the paste without the leaf.