(UTV | COLOMBO) – The historical Kandy Esala Perahera Festival commenced this morning with the Kap planting ceremony.
The Kap planting ceremony took place at 1.06am with the participation of representatives of four dewalayas.
The Kandy Esala Perahera Festival will conclude on the 23rd of August.
Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said the internal Perahera of the four dewalayas will take place from today to the 12th of August.
The first ‘Kumbal Perahera’ of this year’s Kandy Esala festival will parade the streets on the 13th of August and will continue for five days till the 17th of August.
The ‘Randoli Perahera’ will parade the streets of Kandy from the 18th of August.
The Grand Randoli procession will be held on the 22nd of August.
The water cutting ceremony and the day procession will take place on the 23rd of August and subsequently a ‘Perahera sandeshaya’ or the epistle informing that this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera was successfully completed will be handed over to the President by the Diyawadana Nilame and Basnayake Nilames.
Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said all artists and workers who are part of the Perahera have been vaccinated ahead of the festival.
He said all health protocols will be adhered to during this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera Festival.
However, no decision has been taken thus far to allow spectators to witness the festival.