Kandy Esala Perahera festival from July 25 to August 9

By Shehan Seneviratne

Colombo, June 19 (Daily Mirror) - This year’s Kandy Esala Perahera festival will be held from July 25 to August 9, as officially announced by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela.

The announcement was made yesterday (19) evening during a gathering at the meeting hall at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises. The event was held under the patronage of the Anunayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters, Basnayake Nilames of the Four Maha Devalayas, Kandy District Secretary, senior government officials, and top officers of the tri-forces and police in the region.

The Esala Perahera festivities will begin early morning of July 25 with the traditional ‘Kap Situweema’. This will be followed by five internal processions; with the first ‘Kumbal Perahera’ scheduled to parade the streets on July 30. The first Randoli Perahera will take to the streets on August 4, and the final grand Randoli Perahera will be held on Nikini Poya day on August 8.

On the morning of August 9, the water-cutting ceremony (Diya Kepeema) will take place, followed by the daytime Perahera. Later in the day, three final rounds of the procession will be held around the Sri Dalada Maligawa square. The festival will officially conclude after the Perahera Sandeshaya.