Historic Kandy Esala Perahera will begin on July 27
The historic Esala Perahera in Kandy, the world’s oldest, religious and cultural pageant will begin on July 27 with the traditional installation of Kapa (Kap-Situweema) at the four Devales located around the Sri Dalada Maligawa. It is held annually at Kandy and beginning with the full moon poya day on the Buddhist month of Esala (July or August).
This year’s Esala Perahera is considered as the 1702nd perahera after the ‘Danta Dhatu’ (Tooth Relic of the Buddha) was brought to the country by Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala of Kalinga Desha in India during the reign of King Kirti Sri Megavarna in the Anuradhapura era.
The paying of homage to the Tooth Relic of the Buddha is a historical tradition by Sri Lankan Buddhists, while preserving the rituals and traditions of this historical event from generation to generation. It is also held to invoke blessings of the gods to give the farmers rain to cultivate their crops.
The installation of Kapa is considered not as a task belonging to the Dalada Maligawa but a ritual done by four Devale gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and goddess Pattini. The four devales are regarded as the guardians of the sacred tooth relic.
Tentative dates of the Kandy Esala Perahera 2014:
1st - 11th August 2014 (Subject to change)
Date Event
2014-07-27 Kapsituvima (Planting of the 'Kapa')
2014-07-27 to 30 Internal Perahera of Four Devales
2014-08-01 to 05 Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-06 to 10 Randoli Perahera
2014-08-11 Day Perahera (Water Cutting Ceremony "Diya Kepeema")
(ST/KH)
