Sri Lanka Festival in Yoyogi Park
This weekend, around a hundred thousand people are expected to celebrate all things Sri Lankan at the ninth annual festival in Yoyogi Park.
All summer, the area where the event will be held is given over to countries from around the world who use it as an opportunity to promote tourism and culture (the theme is simple, “Sri Lanka: Wonder of Asia”) while having a good old party.
When the organizers promise a taste of Sri Lankan culture, they mean it quite literally. These events are known for their culinary introductions to various nations and the highlights of the pre-event release we have seen seem to be the “Spicy Sri Lankan food, including rice & curry, string hoppers, hoppers, egg hoppers, kotturotti, cutlets, rotti and vaddai” on offer.
And to drink? Well, you could (should?) try some Sri Lankan beer or arrack, a spirit made from distilled coconut sap (which is delicious with ginger beer if you need a bit of dilution…)
Traditional dance from the likes of “world renowned Sri Lankan dance troupe, Channa-Upuli” as well as musical performances by the Bathiya and Santhush group could make you briefly forget you are in Japan – along with the scent of all those pure spices on sale. There will be around 100 stands selling everything from cinnamon to cosmetics along with plenty of jewellery and crafts.
The festival also hopes to celebrate the importance of 2012, which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.
When: Saturday and Sunday Sept. 8th and 9th, 10:00 – 19:00
Where: Yoyogi Park event space.
Image courtesy of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo.
