Kandy Esala Perahera in the Hill Capital – In Honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The famed Esala Perahera will begin next month in Sri Lanka’s hill capital, Kandy. It is a key annual event for Buddhist devotees in the country and is held in honour of Lord Buddha’s Sacred Tooth Relic as well as the Kataragama, Vishnu, Natha and Pattini deities. This year, the festival period will fall from 5th to 15th August and those on cultural tours in Sri Lanka from tour specialists such as Steuart Holidays can visit Kandy during this time.

The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with the Kumbal Perahera that runs from 5th to 9th August. This will be followed by the main Randoli Perahera from 10th to 14th August which sees the procession of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Spectators can expect to see tuskers is vibrant costumes and the chief custodian of the Temple of the Tooth, along with whip crackers, fireball dancers, drummers and more. A day perahera will mark the end of the festival on 15th August.