Kandy Perahera - one of Asia's most beautiful pageants

The Kandy Perahera features five final processions organized by the Sri Dalada Maligawa [Tooth Temple] in Kandy Sri Lanka, which is the most venerated Buddhist temple of Sri Lanka, and by four shrines dedicated to Hindu Gods and a Goddess. It is an event of great significance for Buddhists and for Kandy’s Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which takes annually in the month of July or August in Sri Lanka. The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini.

The dates are scheduled according to auspicious times, which are determined by local astrologists in Sri Lanka, hoping for rains to bless the country and crop cultivation.

A copy of one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics, the Sacred Tooth, is taken from the Temple the Tooth and paraded through the streets as part of the final five parades during the Kandy Perahera fortnight. Following this, more festive events take place at the centre stage and visitors can expect to see a lively cast of dancers, jugglers and fire-breathers milling amongst the crowds.

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. This ritual is performed by carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha through the streets of the Kandy city which is done with exceptional panache. The Diyawadana Nilame, the chief lay head of Kandy’s Tooth Relic Temple is the most responsible person of the Kandy Perahera. Sri Lanka’s largest pageant, the Dalada Perahera, also called Randoli Perahera, travels around Kandy city in the 5 nights before the Nikini Fool moon day in August.

According to old traditions, a Sandesaya, an official message, was submitted to the king by the Diyawadana Nilame, now it is submitted to the president. The Diyawadana Nilame is associated with the participants, with a view of blessing all the pilgrims and spectators of the festival, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, destroying all possible effects of evilness, ritualistic dances serve the same purpose.


     DATE                             EVENT

17th Aug 2015    Kapsituvima (Planting of the ‘Kapa’)
17th Aug 2015     to 20th Aug 2015 Internal Perahera of Four Devales
20th Aug 2015    1st Kumbal  Perahera
21stAug 2015      2nd Kumbal  Perahera
22nd Aug 2015   3rd Kumbal  Perahera
23rd Aug 2015    4th Kumbal  Perahera
24th Aug 2015    5th Kumbal  Perahera
25th Aug 2015    1st Randoli Perahera
26th Aug 2015    2nd Randoli Perahera
27th Aug 2015    3rd Randoli Perahera
28th Aug 2015    4th Randoli Perahera
29th Aug 2015    5th Randoli Perahera
30th Aug 2015    Day Perahera (Water Cutting Ceremony “Diya Kepeema”)


CURRENT ODER OF PROCEEDINGS OF KANDY ESALA OR DALADA PAGEANT
in Sri Lanka

Performance of whip
Dance of fire balls
Buddist flags
District flags {clothes and brass}
Sword Beares
Peramune Rala {Guiding Person}
Hevisi {Drum} Performance
Gajanayaka Nilame {O.I.C. of Elephants}
Players of Horanae {Oriental Flute}
Dance of Hand fans {Chamara}
Dance of wooden sticks {Lee keli}
Group of Pantheru {an instrument}
Talam Players {Seymbal Players}
Hawadi Dagaya
Naiyadi Group
Swort Parade
Dance of Pantheru
Players of Hand timberel {Rabana}
Dance of Talam
Dance of Pantheru
Dance of weval {cane}
Dance of Udakki {small drum}
Group of Nalladi
Sword Dance
playes of Tammattam {twin drums}
Dance of Timberaledance of Pantheru
Dance of Pantheru {Sticks}
Dance of Udakki
West Dance {traditional upcountry dance}
Kariya karawana Korale {cheap of duties}
Nagasinghem
The Tusker with golden relic casket and thwo elephants at ither side
Two Buddhist flags
Kavikara Maduwa
Karriers of flowes and oil lamps
Wes Dance
Diyawadana Nilame
Two Guards and pearl umbrella
Two Burma Flags
Procession of the god Natha
Procession of the GOD Visnu
Procession of god Skanda {Kataragama}
Procession of goddess Pattini