Esala Full Moon Poya in Sri Lanka in 2023 – the Kandy Perahera

Esala Poya is an important public holiday celebrated in Sri Lanka on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, which is in July. This significant occasion commemorates two significant events in Buddhism: The Tooth Relic’s arrival in Sri Lanka and Lord Buddha’s first sermon.

The lunar month of Esala is renowned for its festivals, with the grand Esala Perahera in Kandy being the most extravagant. This religious procession features fire-walking and various forms of rituals by devotees. Elephant peraheras are also held in Kataragama, Dondra, and Bellanwila, while Unawatuna hosts a seven-day celebration attracting numerous visitors to the village and beach. This is a wonderful time to travel to Sri Lanka and witness the festivities in Kandy. For more information on this annual celebration, check out Truly Sri Lanka.