Travel / Lifestyle

Grandest festive ritual of Dalada Maligawa

The sacred Tooth Relic taken in procession annually during August is the grandest festive ritual of the Dalada Maligawa. Local and foreign visitors of all walks of life, irrespective of their religious faiths, gather in Kandy, to rejoice in a festive mood on the days of this event.

The present day Dalada procession consists of five processions, the Dalada procession followed by the four Devala peraheras in the order of Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini. The pageant continues for fifteen days.

Prior to the commencement of the processions, elaborate preparations are made within the premises such as the dressing of the elephants, dressing of the Diyawadana Nilame and the Basnayaka Nilames and other important officers participating in the processions, arrangement of the different groups of musicians, dancers, singers, flag and firebrand bearers and placing of the casket on the back of the elephant.

The important times are announced by the firing of canon balls - the first to announce the commencement of the four devale peraheras, the second at the time of placing the casket on the elephant's back and the third to announce the commencement of the Dalada perahera and the last on the completion of the perahera.

At the head of the Dalada procession are the whip lashers and the fireball acrobats, the main purpose of these two groups are to clear the route.

Next, the Buddhist flag bearers approach, signifying the religious nature of the procession and is followed by bearers of flags of districts and the Viharas and Devales.

The first elephant is ridden by the officer called 'Peramune Rala' (Front Officer). In ancient times, he carried the record of king's permission to hold the procession.

Early morning after the final Randoli procession, the four devale priests go in procession to the ancient ford at Gatambe at Peradeniya and perform the ritual known as 'Diya-Kapilla' (Water-cutting ceremony), in which ceremony each of the lay priests (Kapurala) proceed to the middle of the river Mahaweli at this point, and after cutting the water surface with a sword, immediately fills the brass pot.

These pots are carried back to the shrines, after being blessed on the way at the Katukale Pulleiyyar (Ganesh) Kovil, and the water pots are preserved in the gods' chambers until the next annual procession.

The Day Perahera, consists of the Dalada and Devale processions, which commence from the Maligawa at 3 p.m. on this day. This procession arrives at the Adahana Maluva and returns to the Dalada shrine with the Casket, which had been left overnight at this monastery.

Soon after, the Diyawadana Nilame and the Basnayakes of the four Devales, in their official garb, arrive at the President's official Lodge in Kandy and report to the Head of State that the procession has been completed successfully.

This function ends after the customary offering of gifts to the officials. After the completion of the procession, yet another ritual known as the 'Valiyak-Natuma', a Devil dancing ceremony is held at the Visnu Devale premises for seven days and ends with offering of meals (baibat).

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Resumption of Emirates and Sahara flights hailed

Emirates Airlines resumed flights in and out of Colombo to pre airport closure schedules from July 15, and Sahara Airlines resumed their 2 a.m. flight on July 22.

All tourism stakeholders welcomed the return of Emirates and Sahara Airline flights to Colombo. "With the Kandy Perahera season round the corner and other major events being planned to attract tourists, these two airlines returned to their old schedules will have a further positive impact on the tourism industry" said Chairman Tourist Board, Renton de Alwis.

Emirates Airlines Area Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives Tissa Bibile said "Emirates welcomes the reopening of the Bandaranaike International Airport for night flights and have resumed normal operations, including night flights from Sunday, July 15.

The airline will return to a schedule of 17 services a week between Colombo and Dubai, and four services a week from Colombo to Singapore and Jakarta." Sahara Airlines too went back to their old schedule and the first 2 a.m. flight took off on Sunday, July 22.

SriLankan wins Gold at PATA Gold Awards 2007

SriLankan Airlines clinched its first Gold at the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2007, for the best marketing campaign for an airline.

The airline's 'Home Away from Home' campaign proved hugely popular in Sri Lanka where it was launched, reinforcing SriLankan Airlines brand value of warmth and traditional hospitality.

The annual PATA awards recognise exceptional achievements in areas such as marketing, heritage and culture, environment, education and training with the winners setting industry standards for excellence and innovation.

"We are honoured to receive this Gold Award from PATA as testament to the airline's high standards of innovation and creativity," Head of Corporate Communications at SriLankan Airlines Chandana de Silva said.

"SriLankan Airlines is known for its exceptional service and quality standards and continues to be the preferred choice of Sri Lankans, be it leisure or business travellers, who want the comfort of home when they travel," de Silva said.

The 'Home Away from Home' campaign was developed by SriLankan Airlines Advertising Agency Grant McCann Erickson.