The Kandy Perahera or Esala Perahera in Sri Lanka is a cultural pageant venerating the tooth relic of Lord Buddha, is a spectacular parade which goes on for ten nights in the month of July or August and it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. The Royal city of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s hill capital, Kandy, is situated 488 meters above sea level. This capital of the Central Province is renowned for its culture and beauty and is a sacred city to all Buddhists since the “Dalada Maligawa” (the temple of the sacred tooth relic) is located in the heart of Kandy town.


Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala brought it to Sri Lanka during the Anuradhapura Era from when it became imperative that the King of the Land must be the guardian of the "Dalada".The tooth relic was brought to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the year 310 AD and the first perehera was performed in Anuradhapura the first capital where the sacred relic was housed. Even as the capitals were shifted for security a reason due to invasions, the tooth relic went with it too and was much revered and always in the custody of the king. Finally finding a permanent resting place in the hill capital of the last Sinhalese kindom Kandy, It lies in the “Dalada Maligawa” (Palace of the Tooth Relic) which was built by king Wimaladharma suriya in the 16th century. This three-storey building erected solely for the purpose of housing. The Sacred Relic still stands and is the most visited and important temple of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relics) officially announced the scheduled dates for the Kandy Esala Procession 2010.

Date
2010-08-10 -------------- "Kapsituvima" (Planting of the ‘Kapa’ meaning Kalpa-vrksa or the Wish-conferring Tree)
2010-08-10 to
2010-08-14 -------------- Inside Perahera of the Four Devalas

2010-08-15 -------------- 1st Kumbal Perahera
2010-08-16 -------------- 2 nd Kumbal Perahera
2010-08-17 -------------- 3 rd Kumbal Perahera
2010-08-18 -------------- 4 th Kumbal Perahera
2010-08-19 -------------- 5 th Kumbal Perahera

2010-08-20 -------------- 1st Randoli Perahera
2010-08-21 -------------- 2 nd Randoli Perahera
2010-08-22 -------------- 3 rd Randoli Perahera
2010-08-23 -------------- 4 th Randoli Perahera
2010-08-24 -------------- 5 th Randoli Perahera

The main Perahera procession consists of five separate Peraheras:

- The Dalada Maligawa Perahera

- The Natha Dewala Perahera

- The Maha Vishnu Dewala Perahera

- The Katharagama Dewale Perahera

- The Pattini Dewale Perahera

This order of precedence is maintained throughout

The Maligawa Perahera is comprised as follows:

• The Whip Crackers


They lead the way and announce the approach of the Perahera by cracking their whips. There is quite an art in this, and it is not as easy as the onlooker may imagine.
The whip crackers come into picture only at the commencement of the Randoli Perahera. They do not take part in the Kumbal Perahera.


• Flags


The Flag Bearers walk next in single file on either side of the road. The flags they carry are the standards of the different Provinces and the Temples.

• The Peramunerala


This official rides on the first elephant. In olden times he carried the mandate from the King giving permission to hold the Perahera. The mandate had, in the present day, been replaced by an ola manuscript called the Lekam Mitiya, which is a register of the Maligawa lands as well as the tenants and the services due by them (Fa Hies also refers to an official who proclaimed the Perahera).

• Fire Dancers


• The Drummers players


Next come the Drummers playing Hevisi or martial music on a variety of drums such-as Dawulas, Tammettams and Beres and bloeing Horanawes (flutes). The rhythem, combined with the measured movements of the drummers, vivifies the whole procession.

• The Gajanayaka Nilame
The Gajanayaka Nilame comes next. He rides an elephant and carries a silver goad (ankusa) which is the symbol of his authority.

In the time of the Singhalese Kings the Gajanayaka Nilame was a very high official-the head of the King’s Elephant Stables – and (except for royalty) He alone had the privilege of riding an elephant within the four Gravets of Kandy. He is follow by in numbers from time to time.
•The Kariyakorale
The Kariyakorale, who is next to the Diyawadana Nilame in order of Precedence and is responsible for all the ceremonies connected and is responsible for all the ceremonies connected with the Maligawa, walks next in the Perahera. He is attended by minor temple functionaries, drummers and dancers.

• Kandyan Dancers


• Maligawe Tusker


Now comes the highlight of the procession – the MALIGAWE TUSKER carrying the Perahera Karanduwa (golden casket) containing the Sacred Relics. (The Sacred Tooth Relic is not now taken in procession). A canopy is held over the Tusker, and pavada.(white cloth) is spread in its path (as a mark of respect) for it to walk on.

• Diyawadana Nilame


Those who have the privilege of going up to the Octagon and watching the formation of the Perahera from there still get chance of seeing the Diyawadana Nilame come into the countryard of the temple accompanied by drummers and dancers walking on pavada and carrying aloft the golden casket.

• He stands on a dias and places the casket reverently in the ranhilige (howdah) on the back of the Tusker. The animal then gose down the steps into the street and is hailed by cries of "Sudhu."It is amazing to watch the Tusker coming down the steps. He does it with such care, one almost feel he realizes the solemnity of the occasion and the reverence sttached it.- Incidentally, in the days of the Sinhalese Kings the King himself with the Diyawadana Nilamein attendance carried the sacred casket from the Maligawa and placed it on the back of the Tusker.

•Here mention that spectators- Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike-are expected to stand, as a mark of respect, when Perahera Karanduwa or golden casket passes them.

- The Tusker is followed by two lines of dancers facing each other on either on either side of road with the drummers in the center, and at the end of retinue walks the Diyawadana Nilame in all the Oriental splendour. He is attended by lance (murawadu) bearers, wadana tal-athu sunshade bearers and umbrella-bearer as well as minor temple headmen.


•Natha dewala perahera
The natha dewala perahera follows the Maligawa Perahera of witch it is a smaller edition. The howdah on the chief elephant’s back contains the apparel and insignia (Ran Ayudhaya) of the Deity of the Dewla. The head of the Dewale is the Basnayake Nilame. He walks in the Perahera with his retinue of dancers, and it is customary for him to be accompanied by the Basnayake Nilames of Dodanwela, Vegiriya nd Pasgama. These three Dewales are outside the Four Gravets of Kandy and are placed in the category of Pitisara ("outside") Dewales.

The Natha Dewala is given precedence over the other Dewales because, according to tradition, the Deity of this Dewala is the Buddha-to-come.

• Maha vishnu dewalae perahera

The maha vishnu dewalae perahera comes next. The Basnayake Nilame walks in the procession. He has the usual retinue of dancers and attendants, and it is customary for him to be accompanied by the Basnayake Nilames of the Pitisara Dewales of Lankathilaka, Gadaladiniya , Alawatugoda, Hanguranketha, Morape and Mediri.

The traditional history of the Maha Vishnu Dewale is that chief of the gods (Sakra Devendrayo) entrusted the protection of Buddhism in Ceylon to the Deity of this Dewala.

It is also the accepted tradition that Sakra is in the line of succession (next to the Deity of the Natha Dewale) for Buddhahood.


• The Katharagama dewala perahera


The katharagama dewala perahera follows. Katharagama is supposed to be the General of Sakra and is believed to be all-powerful in war. His assistance was invoked by the kings before battle.

(This Dewale should not be confused with the Maha Katharagama Dewale in Uva.)

The Basnayake Nilame of the Dewale walks in the procession, and it is customary for him to be accompanied by the Basnayake Nulames of the Pitisara Dewales of Embekke and Ganegoda.

• The pattini dewale perahera
The pattini dewale perahera, coming last of all, headed by the Basnayake Nilame, is accompanied by the Basnayake of the Embekke Dewale. Pattni is agoddess who is supposed to exerices control over diseases such as snmall-pox, chicken-pox and measles, and the inclusion of her Dewale in the Perahera is to placate her.

The long procession ends with the Randolis borne by the tenants of the Dalada Maligawa. The Diyawadana Nilame may, if he so desires, invite the Adgars and Dissawes to walk with him in the Perahera. Further, if for any reason he is unable to officiate in the procession, he may ask one the Basnayake Nilames to take his place.

The choice of acception or refusing the honour is given to the Basnayaker Nilames in the order of precedence of their Dewales, viz., the Natha Dewale, Maha Vishnu Dewale, the Katharagama Dewale and the Pattini Dewale.

• Incidentally, the best time to see Esala Perahera is on the last two nights; partically anywhere along the route gives a good view of the procession under way.
The following important times are announced by the firing of cannonballs, which can be heard all across Kandy.
1.The commencement of the Devale Peraheras
2.The placing of the casket on the tuskers back
3.The commencement of the Dalada Perahera
4.The completion of the Perahera

• Diya Kepeema and the Day Perahera


After a further five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the pageant ends with the Diya Kepeema, which is the water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, a town a few miles from Kandy. A Day Perahera is held to mark the ceremony.