The glittering Esala Perahera, which is 235 years old, is
one of the grandest events we have in Sri Lanka. Many locals and foreigners
look forward to witness this wonderful festival every year. This is held during
the Esala month, in August, honouring the sacred tooth relic.Esala Perehera, will once
again shine in all splendor in the hill capital and ancient citadel of Sri
Lanka – Kandy, from the 8th of August to the 21st of August this year (2013).
It will include minor pageant Kumbal Perahera (11th-15th), Randoli Perahera -
the Grand Perahera (16th-19th) with the grandest night being 20th and the Day
Perahera on 21st August. It is very grand with elegant
costumes. It has become a unique symbol
of Sri Lanka
Diyawadana
Nilame With Beautiful Dressings
Beautiful
Kandyan Dancers
This is most fascinating event in the Sri Lankan calender. At the forefront of the procession are the Whip Crackers.
The cracking of whips all the way from the very beginning to end of the chosen
path of Perahera signifies the approach of the procession. Immediately
following the whip crackers are the Flag Bearers carrying are the standards and
the flags of the different Provinces and the Temples in single file on both
sides of the road. The official called Peramunerala riding on the first
elephant follows next carrying the register of the Sacred Temple of the Tooth
at Kandy.
Next on the procession are the Drummers playing an array of traditional drums
and blowing traditional flutes. While the drummers play in explosive style, the
teams of dancers leap and bound. The hoards of drummers and dancers are
followed up by the officer in charge of the elephants, of course mounted on a
caparisoned and decorated tusker. During the ancient and medieval times of Sri
Lanka, the officer in charge of the Kings's stable had been a high ranking
minister of the king. To date the officer in charge of the elephants called Gajanayaka
Nilame carries the silver goad called Ankusa that symbolize his authority.
Following Gajanayake Nilame is another officer of the temple mounted on a
tusker: the Kariyakorawnarala, is the officer in charge of drummers and
dancers. He is also responsible for minor functions at the Sacred Temple of the
Tooth. Arrival of Kariyakorawnarala set the stage for center of attraction: the
Maligawa Tusker Caparisoned, robed and illuminated, the tusker of the temple
stepping in supreme grace and great pride carrying the resplendent golden
casket called Ransivige sheltered with a canopy. The golden casket contains the
Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha.
The beasts sense of the solemnity of the procession and the reverence, in which
the Sacred Tooth Relic is held by the human populace, it seems, could hardly be
bettered even by a human itself. Held high over the Tusker is canopy; unrolled
on to the way of the Tusker is a ream of white cloth called pavada. The
devotees, spectators, the foreign tourists and all distinguished guests stand
steadfast while the Maligawa tusker carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha
passes them. The Tusker is followed by two long chains of vibrant dancers, on
each side of the road, facing each other with a team of drummers in the middle
forming another column. At the end of the retinue is the Custodian of the
Temple of the Tooth titled Diyawadana Nilame, dressed in traditional regalia of
the high officials of the kings, who reigned at the medieval kingdom of Kandy.
Diyawadana Nilame is attended by Murawadu (lance bearers), Wadana tal-athu
(sunshade bearers and umbrella-bearers) as well as the other officials of the
Sacred Temple of the Tooth.
Kandy Esala Perahera dates 2013.
From 2013-08-06 to 2013-08-20.
|
Date
|
Event
|
2013-08-06
|
Kapsituvima (Planting of the 'Kapa')
|
2013-08-06 to 2013-08-10
|
Internal Perahera of Four Devales
|
2013-08-11
|
1st Kumbal Perahera
|
2013-08-12
|
2nd Kumbal Perahera
|
2013-08-13
|
3rd Kumbal Perahera
|
2013-08-14
|
4th Kumbal Perahera
|
2013-08-15
|
5th Kumbal Perahera
|
2013-08-16
|
1st Randoli Perahera
|
2013-08-17
|
2nd Randoli Perahera
|
2013-08-18
|
3rd Randoli Perahera
|
2013-08-19
|
4th Randoli Perahera
|
2013-08-20
|
5th Randoli Perahera
|
2013-08-21
|
Day Perahera (Water Cutting Ceremony "Diya Kepeema")
|
|
Randholi
Perahera is the most fascinating one with more attraction of the spectators.
But others also equally beautiful, but their possession limited to small area.
So please be their to witnees one of the oldest, fascinating event on the earth
with the name of Lord Buddha.
If you
are planning to visit Kandy Esala Perahera I can help you with all the
arrangements please contact via following email address- janapriyajaya@gmail.com
If you willing to witnees the perahera you can buy a ticket & see the perahera or with the crowd standing with each other. Usually seats have high demand & costly.
