Kandy Esala Perahera

The Kandy Esala Perahera is a procession of light, color, spirituality, and festivity that parades the streets of the sacred city of Kandy, drawing thousands of devotees and spectators to the vibrantly decorated streets surrounding the “Dalada Maligawa” (Palace of Tooth Relic) during July and August. A collective mix of Sri Lankan traditional performers flaunting their talents to the rhythmic beats of drums on the streets lit by blazing torches is an experience of its own.

 Known as one of the most exuberant and religiously significant festivals of Sri Lanka, this symbolic parade is graced by most Sri Lankans to pay homage to the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha and the four guardian gods of Sri Lanka, "Natha", "Vishnu", "Katharagama", and "Pattini". It is believed, that the Kandy Perehera is a ritual that has been carried out yearly since the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka by princess “Hemamala” and Prince “Dantha” in the 4th century A.D. According to the history books of Sri Lanka, the sacred Tooth Relic was considered a private property of the King until King “Rajasinghe” declared that it can be taken in procession for the general public to pay homage.

The modern-day Kandy Esala Perehera is held to display the sacred Relic in procession for the devotees from all over the world to pay homage and to request the four guardian gods of Sri Lanka for a season of rainfall. This annually held sacred festival is a ten-day ceremony of traditional rituals, commencing with “Kap Situwima”, followed by five consecutive nights of "Devale Perehera", and five consecutive nights of “Kumbal Perahera” leading up to the “Maha Randoli Perehera” which is considered to be the most symbolic of all.

The magnificent parade of “Maha Randoli Perahera”, flaunting many talents with the cultural and traditional significance of Sri Lanka, begins with whip crackers in the lead, cracking their whips in tune with each other to mark the beginning of the parade. Followed by lively casts of beautiful dancers creating shapes and moves, showcasing multiple traditional dance forms to the glorious beats of drummers, accompanied by blazing torches lighting the parade up, along with fireball dancers and jugglers creating a spectacle of the highest quality.

 

As the beautifully dressed magnificent herd of elephants stride proudly in tune with the drum beats accompanied by hundreds of dancers, drummers, jugglers, and fire performers, this grand parade of multifaceted performers is transformed into one of the grandest processions of all time. Among them is the most glorified and vivaciously dressed tusker marching forward carrying the golden casket that holds the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, in the streets of Kandy under the skies illuminated by the full moon and the streets dazzled by blazing torches. This truly is a mesmerizing sight.