Kandy Esala Perahera
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka, featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. It is held in Esala (July or August), the month believed to commemorate the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. The Kandy Esala Perahera lasts for ten days, with various festivities held throughout. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ refers to a parade of musicians, dancers, singers, acrobats, and other performers, accompanied by caparisoned tuskers and elephants parading the streets in celebration of a religious event.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Goddess Pattini. The Kandy Maligawa Perahera is followed by the peraheras of the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini Devales (temples dedicated to these gods) located near the Kandy Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth).
After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Tooth Relic was handed over to the Buddhist clergy. In the absence of the king, a lay custodian called the Diyawadana Nilame was appointed to handle routine administrative matters. The purpose of the Kandy Esala Perahera procession is to beseech the gods' blessings for rain, which is necessary for crop cultivation and to enrich the lands of the kingdom.
This ritual involves carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha through the streets of Kandy with exceptional panache. It is considered one of the most beautiful pageants in Asia.
The first ritual ‘Kap Situweema’ (planting of a sanctified young Jackfruit tree) marks the commencement of the Perahera rituals. The ritual is performed according to an auspicious time chosen by astrologers. The Jackfruit tree is sprinkled with sandalwood-scented water, and offerings of nine kinds of flowers and an oil lamp with nine wicks are made. The priest of the Maha Vishnu Devale (Vishnu Temple) recites prayers to all the gods.
History of the Kandy Perahera
The Kandy Perahera traces its origins to the arrival of Prince Dantaha and Princess Hemamala, the son-in-law and daughter of King Guhasiva of Kalinga, India, to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kirthisiri Meghawanna (305-331 AD). Following a decree by King Kirthisiri Meghawanna that the relic should be paraded around the city of Anuradhapura once a year, the Esala Perahera has been followed by successive kings, despite interruptions caused by foreign invasions.
The most detailed account of the Esala Perahera comes from the Chinese pilgrim Fa Hien, who visited Sri Lanka in the 5th century A.D. The sporadic invasions by the Dravidian Kingdoms led to the shifting of the capital from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, then to Dambadeniya, and later to other cities. In each location, a new temple was built to enshrine the Sacred Tooth Relic. Finally, after the capital moved to Kandy, the Relic remained undisturbed, and the Esala Perahera has been held annually ever since to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Kandy Esala Perahera Viewing Galleries
The Kandy Esala Perahera is believed to be a fusion of two interconnected peraheras—the Esala and Dalada. It is a grand affair with elegant costumes and is celebrated either in July or August, depending on the Full Moon Poya Day. The Esala Perahera, which is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC, is a ritualistic procession filled with cultural and spiritual significance.
