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The Kandy Esala Perahera (theSri Dalada Perahara procession of Kandy) also known asThe Festival of the Tooth, is an annual religious and culturalfestival held in the months of July and August inKandy,Sri Lanka. This historic procession is conducted to pay homage to theSacred Tooth Relic of theBuddha, which is enshrined at theSri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) inKandy.

The Perahera is considered a unique symbol of Sri Lankan heritage and features a vibrant array of traditional performances, including fire dances, whip dances, and other cultural displays. The festival concludes with theDiya Kepeema, a water-cutting ceremony held at theMahaweli River inGetambe,Kandy.^[1]

The Esala Perahera is believed to be a fusion of two distinct yet interconnected processions: theEsala Perahera and theDalada Perahera. The Esala Perahera, which is thought to have originated in the 3rd century BCE, was a ritual performed to invoke the blessings of the gods for timely rainfall. The Dalada Perahera is said to have commenced following the arrival of theSacred Tooth Relic of theBuddha in Sri Lanka from India during the 4th century CE, approximately eight centuries afterthe passing of the Buddha.^{[citation needed]}

The present form of the Perahera dates back to the period of the Kingdom of Kandy; however, the tradition of parading the Sacred Tooth Relic is over 1,500 years old.^[2] The efforts of the Buddhist monkUpali Thera played a significant role in the evolution of the Kandy Esala Perahera. Initially, the procession primarily honoured Brahminical deities who had been assimilated into local Buddhist practices. Upali Thera considered this approach inconsistent with the Buddhist principles of the nation. Influenced by his teachings, the reigning king proclaimed: "Henceforth, gods and men are to follow the Buddha."

Following the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom to the British in 1815, the custody of the Sacred Tooth Relic was entrusted to theMaha Sangha (theBuddhist monastic order). In the absence of a ruling monarch, the position ofDiyawadana Nilame (chief lay custodian) was instituted to oversee the day-to-day administrative functions relating to the relic and its veneration.^{[citation needed]}

The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with theKap Situveema (also known asKappa), a ritual in which a sanctified youngjackfruit tree (Artocarpus integrifolia) is cut and planted in the premises of each of the fourDevales (shrines) dedicated to the guardian deities—Natha,Vishnu,Katharagama, and the goddessPattini. Traditionally, this ceremony was believed to invoke blessings upon the king and the people.^{[citation needed]}

For the next five nights, theDevale Peraheras are conducted within the precincts of the fourDevales. Each evening, the chief priest of the respectiveDevale leads the procession, accompanied by traditional drummers, musicians, flag and canopy bearers, spearmen, and theRan Ayudha (golden insignia of the deities). On the sixth night, theKumbal Perahera commences and continues for five days.

The Devale Peraheras converge in front of theTemple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), the most venerated Buddhist site in Sri Lanka, where theSacred Tooth Relic has been housed since the 16th century. The insignia of each deity is placed in aransivige (a domed canopy) and carried in procession by elephants under the guidance of the respectiveBasnayake Nilames (lay custodians of theDevales).

The Sacred Casket, a replica of the Tooth Relic, is enshrined in aransivige mounted on the back of theMaligawa Tusker. The Maligawa Perahera then leads the main procession. Whip-crackers and fireball acrobats go ahead to clear the path, followed by Buddhist flag bearers. Leading the official segment is thePeramuna Rala (Front Official), mounted on the first elephant.

He is followed by traditional Kandyan drummers and dancers, who captivate the onlookers with their performances. Subsequent sections include additionalelephants, musicians, dancers, and flag bearers. A group of singers clad in white heralds the arrival of the Maligawa Tusker carrying the Sacred Casket. Behind the tusker walks theDiyawadana Nilame, the chief lay custodian of the relic, dressed in ceremonial Kandyan attire. Traditionally, he is considered responsible for invoking rainfall in due season.

The second procession originates from the Natha Devale, situated facing the Dalada Maligawa. It is considered the oldest building inKandy, dating back to the 14th century. The third procession is from the Vishnu Devale (also known as Maha Devale), dedicated to the Hindu godVishnu, and located in front of the main entrance to the Natha Devale.

The fourth procession comes from the Kataragama Devale, dedicated toKataragama deviyo (identified with the warrior godSkanda). This Devale is located on Kottugodalle Vidiya inKandy. A unique element of this segment is theKavadi dance, where pilgrims perform a traditional peacock dance while carrying semi-circular wooden structures adorned with peacock feathers on their shoulders.

The fifth and final procession is from the Pattini Devale, located west of the Natha Devale. The goddessPattini is associated with the cure of infectious diseases and is invoked during times of drought and famine. This is the only procession that includes female dancers.

Key events during the Perahera are signalled by the firing of cannonballs, audible acrossKandy. These include:

1. The commencement of the Devale Peraheras
2. The placement of the casket on the tusker's back
3. The commencement of the Dalada Perahera
4. The conclusion of the Perahera

TheRandoli Perahera begins after the conclusion of the five nights of the Kumbal Perahera.Randoli refers to the royal palanquins in which the queens of the ancient Kandyan kings were carried. The 2023 Kandy Esala Maha Perahera (Randoli Perahera) was held on 30 August 2023, theNikini full moonPoya day, and witnessed the participation of hundreds of thousands of spectators.

After five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the festival concludes with the Diya Kepeema, a traditional water-cutting ceremony held at theMahaweli River inGetambe, a town located a few kilometres from Kandy. A Day Perahera is conducted to mark the occasion.

The rituals associated with the Sacred Tooth Relic are conducted by the monks of theMalwatte andAsgiriya Chapters of the Buddhist monastic order in Sri Lanka. The overall responsibility for organising the Perahera rests with theDiyawadana Nilame, the chief lay custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The Diyawadana Nilame convenes the officials of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and assigns them specific ceremonial duties in preparation for the festival. The initial step involves consulting theNekath Mohottala, the official astrologer, to determine the most auspicious times for the commencement and various rituals of the Perahera.

The responsibility of coordinating the various drumming groups is delegated to four senior officials known as thePanikka Mura Baarakaruwo. Meanwhile, officials from the Maligawa liaise with the owners of the elephants selected to participate in the procession, as the majority of elephants are privately owned.

The invited dance troupes are given time to rehearse and prepare their performances. Subsequently, theBasnayake Nilames, the lay custodians of the fourDevales (shrines), are instructed to make arrangements for their respective Devale Peraheras.

Upon the conclusion of the Esala Perahera, theDiyawadana Nilame leads a ceremonial procession comprising the Nilames of the Sathara Maha Devalas and the Nilames of rural devalas to thePresident's Pavilion. This procession carries a formal letter, known as thePerahera Sandeshaya, addressed to thePresident, signifying the successful completion of that year's Esala Perahera.

The President traditionally receives thesannasa at the entrance to the Pavilion, in a symbolic gesture acknowledging the continuation of this significant cultural and religious event.

Several distinguished tusker elephants have served as the main casket bearers (Dalada Maligawa tuskers) during the Kandy Esala Perahera. These elephants carried the Sacred Casket containing the replica of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha and played a central role in the procession. Notable among them are:

• Raja (රාජා හස්තියා)
• Heiyantuduwa Raja (හෙයියන්තුඩුවේ රාජා)
• Millangoda Raja (මිල්ලන්ගොඩ රාජා)
• Nadungamuwa Raja (නැදුන්ගමුවේ රාජා)

These tuskers are revered in Sri Lankan cultural and religious history for their service in one of the country's most sacred and iconic festivals.

• Cetiya
• Relics associated with Buddha

• Kandy Esala Perahera

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