Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KANDY ESALA PERAHERA
Thisperahera(procession) is held in Kandy to honour the sacred tooth enshrined in the
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). It runs for 10 days in the month
of Esala (July/August), ending on the Nikinipoya(full moon). Kandy's biggest night of the
year comes after these 10 days of increasingly frenetic activity. A decline in elephant
numbers has seen the scale of the festival diminish in recent years - in earlier times more
than 100 elephants took part - but it is still one of Asia's most fascinating celebrations.
The first six nights are relatively low-key. On the seventh night, proceedings escalate as
the route lengthens and the procession becomes more splendid (and accommodation
prices increase accordingly).
The procession is actually a combination of five separateperaheras. Four come from
the four Kandydevales(complexes for worshipping Hindu or Sri Lankan deities, who are
also devotees and servants of the Buddha): Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini. The
fifth and most splendidperaherais from the Sri Dalada Maligawa itself.
The procession is led by thousands of Kandyan dancers and drummers beating drums,
cracking whips and waving colourful banners. Then come long processions of up to 50
elephants. The Maligawa tusker is decorated from trunk to toe. On the last two nights of
theperaherait carries a huge canopy sheltering the empty casket of the sacred relic
cask. A trail of pristine white linen is laid before the elephant.
The Kandy Esala Perahera is Sri Lanka's most magnificent annual spectacle. It's been
celebrated annually for many centuries and is described by Robert Knox in his 1681 book
An Historical Relation of Ceylon.There is also a smaller procession on thepoyaday in
June, and specialperaherasmay be put on for important occasions.
It's essential to book roadside seats for the mainperaheraat least a week in advance.
Prices range from Rs 5000 to 7000. Once the festival starts, seats about halfway back in
the stands are more affordable.
