The Anuradhapura historic Sri Dalada perahera (Procession of the sacred Tooth Relic) was conducted for the 27th consecutive year on August 1. The renaissance of the Anuradhapura Dalada Perahera inspired by the late North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake in August 1996 has been continuing amid hindrances.
At the recently held Dalada Perahera steering committee chaired by Atamasthanadipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera at the North Central Provincial Council auditorium, it was decided to limit the Perahera ceremony and rituals affiliated to it only for one day in consideration of the economic crisis in the country.
As it has been the tradition descending from the time of ancient kings, the Perahera left the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises after the casket of relics placed on the tusker by North Central Governor Maheepala Herath and taken to the historic Abayagiri temple in a grand procession consisting of tuskers, dancers, drummers, musicians and cultural items via the ancient Anuradhapura Dalada Maligawa where religious rituals prescribed services including pirith chanting were conducted en-route.
The sacred tooth relic housed at the Temple of Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) in the city of Kandy is worshipped by Buddhists the world over. According chronicles, among few other sacred relics, four sacred tooth relics remained intact following Mahaparinirwana (Nibbana).
The Buddha’s left canine tooth out of the four tooth relics blessed with Saddhamma for 45 years was brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kithsirimevan by Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha seeking protection for the Tooth Relic in 310 A.D.
According to the Mahawamsa, following the arrival of the sacred tooth Relic, it was first housed in the Isurumuniya Temple, Anuradhaprua and was honoured and worshiped by king Kithsirimevan by arranging to conduct Dalada Perahera. It became an annual event during the Anuradhapura kingdom in anticipation of timely rain and good harvest.
During the kingdoms of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte, Seeethawaka and Kandy, the annual Dalada Perahera was performed as a showcase of guardianship of the sacred Tooth Relic along with all rituals, poojas and religious observances.