Kandy Esala Perahara - Cultural show in temple of tooth relic

The month of July or the month of EsalaFrom ancient times the month of Esala is known as the month of Perahera. The reason for this is that in the month of Esala, perahera festivals are held in several major temples of the island. Although the Esala Perahera is held in Kandy as well as Aluth Nuwara, Navagamuwa, Dondra, Ratnapura and Kataragama, the Esala Perahera is held in grand style in the vicinity of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

Dalada Perahera (kandy Esala Perahara) and Traditional Beliefs

The Dalada Perahera is held in accordance with the traditional traditions. The Dalada Perahera is held based on the auspicious time. The auspicious Mohottala (Nakath mohottala) is in charge of preparing the relevant auspicious time. Most of the time this auspicious time falls on the month of Esala. Sometimes this applies to both Esala and Nikini months. According to the tradition a procession is held at the Temple of the Tooth and at the end the water has to be cut. The procession to other temples and shrines begins after the Diyakapum festival. This is a perahera festival season in the upcountry. Therefore, the month of Esala was formerly known as the "Perahera Month".

Dalada Perahera

The Perahera is considered to be a festival that reflects the Sri Lankan identity, with many traditional dances and performances as well as ancient customs. The Esala Perahera is considered to be the result of the evolution of the Ashta festivals in ancient India. It is believed that the Kandy Esala Perahera started in its present form during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe.

The present day Kandy Esala Perahera is believed to have started around the middle of the 18th century AD.
It included only the perahera of the four devalayas of Natha, Kataragama, Vishnu and Pattini. According to the instructions of Ven. Welivita Saranankara Sangharaja Thero, King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 - 1782 AD) added a procession of the Temple of the Tooth to the perahera which is believed to have given a Buddhist look to the Esala Perahera. Accordingly, it is fitting that the beginning of the present 'Dalada Perahera' took place during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe.

The old Dalada Perahera has been used as an opportunity to show state power rather than a cultural exhibition. With the permission of the then Governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Barnes, the Perahera of the Sacred Tooth Relic was held on May 29, 1828, amidst the salute of war.