| Travel News Talk
Travel News Talk

The Annual Kandy Esala Perahera to be Held in August 2018 – A Much Awaited Cultural Pageant

Daniel LiabeufElephants of Kandy Esala Perahera (2)CC BY-SA 3.0

One of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most famous Buddhist festivals, the 2018 Esala Perahera is scheduled to commence this August in the hill capital Kandy. Set to take place from 16th to 26th August, the event is known for its colourful pageantry and parades. Sri Lanka tour packages centred around the festival are available for visitors during this time offered by local tour specialists the likes of Connaissance de Ceylan.

An annual event that draws huge crowds, the Esala Perahera is so named since it is held in the month of “Esala”. It is held in honour of what is believed to be the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha as well as four guardian Gods namely Kataragama, Vishnu, Natha and the Goddess Pattini. The Sacred Tooth Relic is carried through the streets and while the parades feature fire-breathers, jugglers, dancers and more, the highlight of it for many, are the elephants adorned in colourful ceremonial garments.