The Bellanwila Esala Perahera: Colombo’s Cultural Pageant

The greatest Cultural Pageant of the Colombo District -- the 66th Annual Randoli Maha Perahera, of the historical Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya will be held on August 27, 2016.  

Bellanwila Esela Festival began on August 11 with the late Sri Somaratane Nayake felicitation Dhamma Sermons on August 12 and 13. The seven-day Pirith ceremony began on August 14. The Sutra Desana was held on August 19 and 20 and the Dorakada Asna after the Devaduta recitation. It was followed by the Kumbal Perahera. The cultural pageant began on August 21 with the Mal Perahera. It will continue till August 24 followed by the Pavada Perahera on August 25 with the Ransivili Perahera on the 26th. The final Perahera the great cultural pageant, the Randoli Maha Perahera will parade the streets on August 27. The water-cutting ceremony and bestowing of merit and offering of alms to the deities will be held on August 28 with the magnificent 2016 Bellanwile Esala Festival coming to an end.  

In our cherished history in Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the Bellanwile Rajamaha Viharaya occupies a prominent place. Thousands flock daily to the Bellanwila Temple premises to worship and pay homage. Tradition records that when a child is born to a Buddhist family in the Western Province, the first outing will be to the Bellanwila Temple. The child will be kept under the Bo-Tree. The writer’s first outing too was to the Bellanwila Temple and his beloved parents kept him as a baby under the shade of this historic Bo-Tree.  

The golden Era of the Bellanwila Temple dawned in 1947 when the Most Venerable Bellanwila Somaratane Nayake Thera assumed the duties as the Chief Incumbent of the Temple. The great cultural pageant of Bellanwila Perahera was started in 1950 by Ven. Somaratne Nayake Thera. It was his brainchild. Today his pupil, erudite scholar and Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Professor Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera and Bellanwila Dhammarathane Thera are responsible in continuing this annual pageant.   

Thousands witness this panoramic Perahera. The whip crackers, low country, up country and Sabaragamuwa dancers, to match the beating of drums. The singing of the damsels and male artistes infuse beauty, charm and elegance to the procession. The atmosphere is electrifying. “Sadhu – Sadhu- Sadhu” reverberates the air and a calm and serene atmosphere prevails.  

About 30 elephants parade the streets. The main attraction is the majestic elephant which carries the Sacred Relics Casket. Elephants are dressed in gold, silver with glittering headgear and beautiful armlets and anklets.  

One of the main reasons for the success of the annual Bellanwila Perahera is undoubtedly the unstinted support of all the communities in the area. Right round the year, the Bellanwila Temple continues its religious, cultural, social services and the grateful people in return support this Esala Festival in a big way.