This year’s Kandy Esala Perahera festival is set to take place from 25th of July to August 9, as officially announced by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela.
The announcement was made on June 19 during a ceremonial gathering at the meeting hall of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The event was held under the patronage of the Anunayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters, along with the Basnayake Nilames of the Four Maha Devalayas, the Kandy District Secretary, senior government officials, and top officers from the tri-forces and police.
The festivities will commence on the morning of July 25 with the traditional ‘Kap Situweema’ ritual. This will be followed by five internal processions, beginning with the first ‘Kumbal Perahera’ on July 30. The ‘Randoli Perahera’ processions will begin on August 4, with the grand finale scheduled for Nikini Poya day, August 8.
The final day, August 9, will start with the sacred ‘Diya Kepeema’ (water-cutting ceremony), followed by a daytime Perahera. The festival will conclude with three final rounds of the procession around the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the presentation of the ‘Perahera Sandeshaya’.
