Kataragama Esala Festival to commence on June 26

By M.K. Nandasena

Colombo, June 4 (Daily Mirror) - The Esala festival at the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya will commence on June 26 and continue till July 11, concluding with the traditional water-cutting ceremony at the Jeewamali ferry in the Menik Ganga, Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara announced today.

He announced the dates of the festival at a meeting held to organise the preliminary arrangements for the event.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Moneragala District Secretary Pasan Ratnayaka at the Kirivehera Rajamaha Vihara, convened on the instructions of the Chief Incumbent of Kirivehera Rajamaha Vihara, Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera.

Delivering an Anusasana, Ven. Dhamminda Thera noted that the Esala festival has been held since the reign of King Dutugemunu by royal proclamation, and that this year marks the 2,186th consecutive year of the historic religious celebration.