THE KANDY ESALA PERAHERA

The Kandy Esala Perahera parades the streets of the Hill Capital to coincide with the eighth full moon poya of the year — the Esala Poya — in July/August.

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The change of date each year is because the lunar calendar is not parallel to the Gregorian calendar in use, since the full moon occurs every 28 days.

The Kandy Perahera is a mix of culture, religion, historical tradition and of course a vast show, albeit imbued with dignity and splendour. It is the most ancient perahera, which combines the Dalada Maligawa procession with those of devales — Natha, Vishnu, Pathini and Kataragama devales. As time progressed, other temples and devales inaugurated their peraheras and thus we have several dotted all over the country. The next most ancient of these is the Kataragama Devale Perahera, which usually closely follows or precedes the Kandy procession. Coming into prominence as a tourist attraction is the procession in Colombo organised by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Vihara. Another well patronized perahera is of the Bellanwila Temple in a suburb of Colombo.

Authority and power are epitomised by the Diyawadana Nilame (DN) — the chief of the Temple of the Tooth - and Basnayake Nilames of the other devales, who walk in their respective processions. They are truly majestic, dressed as they are in yards and yards of gold bordered silk cloth with huge waists and intricately sequined and gold embroidered jackets, also a hat and pointed shoes. Elaborate jewelry and a jewel studded small sword stuck in their waistbands complete their regalia. To signify their authority they have retainers who walk behind, one holding a white parasol, and dancers who precede them chanting respectful stanzas.