Kandy Esala Perahera begins on July 27
by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy South CroupCorr.
The historic Kandy Esala Perahera of the Sri Dalada Maligawa will
commence on July 27 with the Kumbal Perahera and conclude on August 5
with the final Randoli Perahera. The Day Perahera will be on August 6
said the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalda Maligawa Nilanga Dela
Bandara.
The planting of the Kap will take pale on July 22.
Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara said with the ending of the
thirty year war and normalcy being restored, a very large gathering is
expected for this year's Esala Perahera. Large crowds will throng to see
the first Kumbal Perahera.
This year the route of the first Kumbal Perahera on July 27 will be
extended. It will start from the Maligawa Square and proceed along
Dalada Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya (Trincomalee Street), Pansala
Para, Deva Veediya, Srimath Bennet Soysa Veediya, Kotugodella Veediya,
Raja Veediya and back to Maligawa Square.
With the planting of the Kap, the Inner Perahera will commence on
July 22 by parading within the Sri Dalada Complex from July 22 to July
26 before it takes to the streets on July 27 with the Kumbal perahera
which concludes on July 31.
The grand Randoli Perahera will commence on August 1 and conclude on
August 5. The Diyawadana Nilame said that the annual Perahera of Sri
Vishnu Devale of Devinuwara and the Esala Festival of the Ruhunu
Kataragama Devale will also be held at the same time and there will be a
heavy demand for elephants to participate in the Peraheras.
Despite this 80 - 100 elephants will participate in the final Randoli
Perahera.
The Water Cutting will take place in the early hours of August 6 at
the Getambe ford of the Mahaweli Ganga and conclude with the Day
Perahera on August 6.
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