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Kandy Esala Perahera

✦ Kandy · Buddhist festival ★ Featured

Kandy Esala Perahera

Ten nights of torch-lit processions in Kandy honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic — elephants, drummers and Kandyan dancers.

Photo: Daniel Liabeuf / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

When it usually happens

  1. JanNot usually
  2. FebNot usually
  3. MarNot usually
  4. AprNot usually
  5. MayNot usually
  6. JunNot usually
  7. JulUsually takes place
  8. AugUsually takes place
  9. SepNot usually
  10. OctNot usually
  11. NovNot usually
  12. DecNot usually

Many Sri Lankan festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates change every year — check the official dates before booking.

Overview

The Esala Perahera is Sri Lanka’s best-known festival, held in Kandy in the month of Esala (usually July–August). Processions leave the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) together with those of the four guardian shrines (devales) of Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini.

The first nights are the Kumbal Perahera; the larger Randoli Perahera follows, with the final and grandest procession on the night of the Esala full moon (Poya). The festival ends the next day with the traditional water-cutting ceremony (Diya Kepeema) on the Mahaweli river.

Highlights

  • Decorated elephants, including the tusker carrying the relic casket
  • Kandyan dancers, drummers, fire and whip performers
  • The final Randoli Perahera on the Esala full-moon night
  • Diya Kepeema water-cutting ceremony the following day

Good to know

  • Hotels in Kandy fill up early — book months ahead
  • Reserved roadside seats are sold for the main nights; arrive early
  • Dress modestly and be respectful — this is a religious procession
  • Drones are not appropriate during the procession

References / Sources

Location

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