Solo Explorer: Kandy Esala Perahera (The Parade of the Tooth Relic)

Kandy Esala Perahera

Kandy Esala Perahera (The Parade of the Tooth Relic)

Kandy – Capital of the Central Province of Sri Lanka is situated 116km (72mi) away from Colombo main city of Sri Lanka.

Esala –According to Sri Lankan calendar, The same of the month of July.

Perahera – Parade of Musicians, Dancers, Acrobats, & Various other performers accompanied by large number of tuskers & elephants parading the streets in the grand celebration of a religious event.

Kandy Esala Perahera is associated parade of Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth Relic) and it is annually held in the honor of sacred Tooth Relic of Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha & for four guardians such as God Natha, God Vishnu, God Katharagama & Goddess Paththini. This parade is held in August on full moon day every year.

The Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemalatha & Prince Dantha from the kingdom of Kalinga, India during the reign of king Kithsiri Megahavanna (301 – 328). It became the palladium of the Sri Lankan kings and was preciously guarded in the special shrine built within the precincts of the royal palace, wherever the capital was located. The ruins of such edifices remain in ancient capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambabeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kotte and Gampola. While at Kandy, the last capital, the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple continues to be the greatest Shrine that receives the utmost veneration of the Buddhist world.

Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic consists of three buildings such as WedasitiMaligawa, Pattirippuwa & Aluth Maligawa. The 1^stbuilding of the Kandy Tooth Relic Temple was erected by the king of Vimaladharmasooriya I and the structure was not anymore. Three storeyed building to house the Sacred tooth relics was erected by King Vimaladharmasooruya II. Front section with Paththiripppuwa was erected by King Sri Wrickrama Rajasinghe (the last Sri Lankan King 1798 – 1815AD).

The history of the Kandy Esala Perahera:

The Esala Perahera is believed to be a fusion of two separate but interconnected "Peraheras" (Processions). The Esala and Dalada, The Esala Perahera Dated back to the 3rd century BC, a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera Is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th Century AD.

Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera Started during the reign of the King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781 AD). During those times, the Tooth Relic was considered private property of the King and the public never got a chance to worship it. However, King Rajasinghe decreed the Relic to be taken in procession for the masses to see and venerate. The custody of the Relic was handed over to the Buddhist Clergy in 1815. In the absence of the king, a lay custodian called the "Diyawadana Nilame" was appointed to handle routine administrative matters.

The Parade on street for 10 days 1^st to 4^thdays are called “Kumbal Perahera” 5^th day is the final day of “Kumbal Perahera” locales are called “AwasanKumbal Perahera”. Next four days named as “RandoliPerahera” & the final day is the grand parade of the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera which is called “AwasanRandoli Maha Perahera”.

Please Note: If you have a plan to see the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera you have to book your accommodation at least 3 months before the visit and also In Kandy Tooth Relic Temple, you will not be allowed to enter with sleeveless tops and shorts or trousers.

Names related to the Kandy EsalaPerahara:

· Diyawadana Nilame – Lay custodians of routing administrative matters in Temple of Tooth Relic.

· Basnayake Nilames – Lay custodians of the Devales.

· Peramune Rala - Riding on the 1^st elephant is Officially called Peramune Rala & he carried the permission letter of held from the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera.

· Four Devalas – God Natha, God Vishnu, God Kataragama & Goddess Paththini (Temples dedicated to Gods which are situated in the vicinity of Dalada Maligawa).

Alignment of Kandy EsalaPerahara:

Starts with first custom Kap Situveema; which is a sanctified young Jackfruit tree (Artocarpusintegrifolia) was cut and planted in the premises of each of the four Devales dedicated to the four guardian gods : Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama, and the goddess Pattini at the auspicious time given. Then started Devala Peraheras, During the first five days the Devale Perahera it was held within the grounds of four Devales dedicated to the four guardian Gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and the Goddess Pattini by the chief priest of the Devalas. Traditionally it was meant to shower blessing on the King and the people. Permission must be given by the DiyawadanaNilame to start the Perahera. All the officials such as Kariya Karwana Korala, Gajanayake, Kapuwas Vidanes, Kankanam Rala, Mohottala and Wattorurala greet DayawadanaNilame and thereafter only perahera starts.

The relic casket, which is a substitute for the Tooth Relic is placed inside the Ransivige affixed to the Maligawa Elephant, a tusker.

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 in order by those of the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini ‘Devales’, The Maligawa Perahera joins the awaiting Devale Peraheras to lead the procession.

In order to start the perahera, three rounds of shots are fired. The first sound for the parades of four devales to line up and join the parade of Maligawa. The second sound indicates that the golden casket which contains the Sacred tooth relic is placed on the back of Maligawa tusker. In the third sound, the parade sets off. The very first in the parade of the temple of the tooth relic are thirty whip crackers.

The Perahera is coming with the following order

1. Whip-crackers clear the path

2. Fire Ball Dancers

3. Flag Carriers

4. PeramuneRala

5. First Hewisi Group

6. Kothala Dancers

7. Rattan Weavers

8. Sawaran Dancers

9. Tambourine Dancers

10. Ves Dancers

11. The Tooth Relic

12. Diyawanada Nilame

13. Natha Devala Perahera

14. Vishnu Devala Perahera

15. Kataragama Devala Perahera

16. PattiniDevala Perahera (Only female dancers are dancing at the PattiniDevala Perahera)

*For some people not able to forget the duties of light the ceremonial route of the procession with flame.

On the next day morning, the parades from four devales head towards the stepping stones of the GetambeMahaveli River at Getambe Diya Kapanathota temple. The head priest of the devales (Kapurala) walk into the middle of the river and cuts the surface of the water with a golden sword. Then the priests empties the water stored in Rankendiya (golden ewer) which they had filled at the same spot an year ago. This traditional ritual is known as ‘Diya Kepeema’, which means cutting water. During the ancient times, the chiefs were then received by the king and report that the Perahera had been held with due ceremonial. Following this tradition, now the government agent of the Central Province receives the chiefs and marks the conclusion of the annual Esala Perahera festival.