The Kandy Esala Perahera is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated in Sri Lanka.It is held annually in August in Kandy.This historical procession is held to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
At the start of the perahera, we can see whip crackers.They tell us that the perahera is going to start.There are fire ball accrobats and drummers follow them.
There are decorated elephants and tuskers too. This year, Indi Raja bears the casket of the Sacred Tooth Relic on his back. The Diyawadana Nilame and other Nilames walk very proudly adding colour to the perahera.
Then only does the four dewala peraheras join the Dalada perahera.We can see women only in the Paththini dewala perahera. Sri Lankans as well as foreigners flock to Kandy each year to see this fabulous event.I wish this Kandy Esala Perahera to be more colourful in the future.
Ashinshani Dhanusha
Jayasundara
Grade 9D
K/Hemamali Girls’ College,
Kandy