Kandy Festival, also known as the ‘Esala Perahera’, is one of the most prestigious, grand, and significant religious festivals happening in Sri Lanka once a year. It is usually held for ten consecutive days starting from mid-August every year. Visitors, devotees, and spectators worldwide come to Sri Lanka to witness the grand festival. It is well known around the world as one of the most beautiful religious festivals. It is a parade with many event participants such as dancers, beautifully decorated elephants, musicians, singers, acrobats, and many more. It is conducted for ten days at a stretch with many festivals depicting different aspects of culture and Buddhism. The main reason for holding the festival in such an honored manner is to gain blessings for rain from gods to make the lands of Sri Lanka rich and fertile with rain to start cultivation for the new season.
The commencement of the festival is done by a person named ‘Peramune Rala’ announcing the start of the festival. On the day of the festival, the sacred golden casket is placed on the royal tusker. This is done with so much gratitude and respect at an auspicious time.
The procession starts with whip crackers, and you will be able to hear the sound of crackers from far away so that you know the parade has begun. The whip cracking starts at the beginning of the festival and continues till the end. It helps to clear the roads as the visitors will know that the procession is on the way. The essential part of whip-cracking is that the whip is made out of all-natural resources from trees and plant materials, and it takes a long time for the whip to season and comes to a stage where it creates the most appropriate sound. Whip cracking depicts thunder and lightning and makes a unique sound. You will see visitors throwing money towards the parade, and the performers will collect the money in the parade. The performers will collect the money and offer it to the gods at the end of the procession.
Fireball dancers or fire breathers are the next in line and are one of the most beautiful events of the parade. The festival is decorated with different fire patterns created by the fire breathers. You will be able to witness even small children below 10 years creating amazing fire patterns which depict a lot of bravery, strength, and practice. This act is done using hands, legs and it is one of the most eye-catching views for everyone who is watching.
Sri Lankan and Buddhist flag bearers will decorate the parade following the fire breathers. One of the most incredible facts about the event is that the detainees carry the flags from the prisons of Sri Lanka. They can participate in the most sacred religious festival in Sri Lanka to calm their minds and provide them some time off the difficult time spent in prison. Then the district flag carriers and provincial flag bearers holding flags of different districts and provinces of Sri Lanka will walk in the procession. Sword carriers will enter the parade next, and they depict the pride of the Sri Lankan culture and ensure the security of the sacred tooth relic of Buddha.
A person named ‘Peramune Rala’ riding on a small elephant decorated with lights and beautiful attire will take over the procession. He carries the register of the Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic.
Following that, you will be able to hear music coming from traditional drummers and flute players. Different types of instruments, including traditional drums and flutes, will create music in the parade. The music played in the parade is highly conventional and unique to Sri Lankan culture, and you will not be able to hear the same piece of music anywhere else in the world. It carries the pride and strength of Sri Lankan culture.
A person called ‘Gajanayake Nilame’ will follow the dancers, and he is in charge of all the elephants and tuskers of the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic. He will ride in a lavishly decorated tusker wearing a beautiful traditional attire illuminated by lights.
Teams of traditional dancers will follow the festival, and the first would be dancers carrying betel leaves which is a substantial part of the Sri Lankan culture. Following the betel dancers, another person known as ‘Kariyakorawnarala’ holding a Buddhist flag will ride in a tusker in the procession. He is the person in charge of all the dancers and drummers and other small Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic events.
Another dance troupe will enter the parade holding coconut flowers. They will engage in a beautiful traditional dance whilst singing. In Sri Lankan culture, coconut flowers are considered a symbol of prosperity, and these dancers strive to show it in their dance moves.
Then you will be able to witness one of the most attractive views of the parade, which is royal tuskers illuminated beautifully and walking in pride and grace in the procession.
Chamara dancers will be the next in the procession, and they show gratitude towards the spectators for coming to watch the parade through their dance.
Wood tappers will be the next dancing event of the parade. They will dance to the music of the flute using wooden sticks.
Naiyandi dancers will follow the procession, and it is a jaw-dropping dance with great music from a set of professional drummers.
Then the Pathuru dancers will enter the procession. It is a traditional Sri Lankan folk dance, and they will dance whilst creating a beautiful rhythm from the wood paddle they hold. Pantheru dancers will follow the procession after the pathuru dancers.
Cymbal is a traditional Sri Lankan musical instrument, and the cymbal players will add a unique rhythm to the parade and a beautifully choreographed dance.
After every dancing troupe, a beautifully illuminated elephant or a tusker will walk in the procession. One of the most amazing facts is that some of these elephants have participated in the Kandy festival for more than 35 years consecutively. Even year, even these gracious animals must be eagerly waiting to walk in the parade like humans.
Tambourine dancers will also perform a traditional folk dance of Sri Lanka in the parade. They hold a long flexible stick with an instrument attached to the edge, and they perform a magnificent dance using it. They rotate the instrument in a circular motion on top of the stick and their finger. It is a talent that they have developed over the years.
Sword dancing troupe is the next in line, and their dance depicts the warfare, monarchy, strength, and pride of the Kings of Sri Lanka. They use a sword and a shield during their dance.
Thammatam players use a drum consisting of two parts, one producing a higher sound and a lower sound. Thammattam is a traditional instrument of Sri Lanka and gives a vibrant sound to the parade when played.
Mixed folk dances will be presented in the middle of the parade. They will use multiple instruments to create a beautiful dance with fascinating music. Udakki dancers, Naiyandi dancers, and Pantheru players are seen often in the parade.
Ves dancers are an important symbol of Sri Lankan heritage. These dancers usually wear lavishly decorated attire with glowing ornaments and jewelry that depict the culture of Sri Lanka.
Ves dancers and the arrival of the Kariya Korala paves the way for the royal tusker carrying the golden casket with the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. The ceremonial tusker is magnificently illuminated and is beautifully dressed, and two other tuskers follow him from both sides. The royal tusker carrying the golden casket is made for walking on a white cloth usually known as ‘pavada’. All the spectators and devotees stand up, worship, and honor the Sacred Tooth Relic when it is passing by.
The royal tusker is followed by drummers and singers along with a troupe carrying flowers and oil lamps. Another set of Ves dancers is the ‘Diyawadana Nilame’, who is the chief custodian of the Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic. He is dressed in beautifully designed royal attire depicting the kings of Sri Lanka. He is given security by a troupe of Sri Lankan, martial art players.
That marks the end of the main parade, which is known as the ‘Randoli Perehera’. After the main ceremony, four other parades devoted to four gods and goddesses are conducted. The four processions are done for God Vishnu, God Kataragama, God Natha, and God Pattini.
Out of all of the parades, the main procession, known as ‘Randoli Perahera’, is considered the most beautiful. It is a must-watch if you are planning to visit Kandy during the festival period.
Tips to know if you are planning to visit the Kandy festival
- If you are planning to visit Kandy during the festival, make sure to make an early bird booking of your hotels. During the festival period, roads and places that provide accommodation and lodging can be packed and busy.
- Book your train and bus tickets early to avoid any inconvenience as many spectators visit Kandy during this period.
- If you plan to watch the procession as a spectator, make sure you wear white attire with limited exposure. For men, long trousers or a sarong and a shirt are recommended. Women need to ensure that their knees and shoulders are fully covered.
- Spectators from all over the world will arrive to watch the festival. Hence, make sure you go a little early and find a space that has a clear view of the parade. You can pay and reserve a seat in the viewing gallery or reserve a balcony from a hotel that has a good view. Also, you can stand and watch the entire parade free of charge as well.
- The parade will go for more than three hours. Hence it is better to bring some water bottles, snacks, and an umbrella in case it rains.
We have given you a summary of the grandest festival of Sri Lanka, which may help you during your visit to watch the festival, and if you need further assistance to make your vacation a reality feel free to reach us at [email protected].