Navam Perahera:

Colombo’s dazzling cultural spectacle

By Nilma DOLE

A whirlwind of colours, breathtaking dances, rhythmic beats and dazzling lights together with majestic elephants culminated in a spectacular experience of culture and religious tradition at the Navam Perahera held in all its splendour last week.

The Navam Perahera, which is held every February, is a vibrant pageant which marks the glory of the important day of Navam Poya. Thousands of spectators throng the area to witness one of Sri Lanka’s most wonderful pageants, second only to the Kandy Esala Perahera.

This year saw President Mahinda Rajapaksa marking the opening of the Navam Perahera with his son, Sub-Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa. They carefully placed the Gangarama Temple’s sacred relic casket on the main tusker, Ranaraja.

The President, in his speech, said that the Navam Perahera is a milestone event that unites Sri Lankans all over the country and is an event that is enjoyed and witnessed by all.

“After we brought peace to Sri Lanka, we can enjoy and celebrate unity, peace and harmony where people from all walks of life, different ethnicities and various religions can be a part of the Navam Perahera which is Colombo’s dazzling cultural spectacle,” he said.

While the recent devastating floods caused havoc in our country, donations have poured in to help the affected. The Chief Incumbent of the Gangarama Temple Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera (Podi Hamuduruwo) who is also responsible for organising the Perahera annually, said that a considerable part of the donations has already been allocated as flood relief assistance with donations from the Navam Perahera also contributing to this cause.

So, this year, it was enjoyment and charity going hand-in-hand to make the Navam Perahera a worthy and discerning experience.

It is a long procession where many elephants and over a 1,000 performers took to the streets to showcase their talents.

Launched in 1979, the Navam Perahera attracts more than a million spectators with free seating on the pavements and special box seats too being available on a first-come first-served basis.

Blowing of conch-shells

The Navam Perahera starts with the blowing of conch-shells by performers, engulfing the spectators in a magical incantation. The nearly mile-long parade takes off on a pleasant note with young boys cracking whips, and collecting coins from the audience as a donation towards making the Perahera a success.

The thrilling drum beats and flutes combine into a magical plethora of percussion. The different drumming performances provide an air of vibrancy, setting an energetic atmosphere with colourful traditional costumes.

The agile dancers perform with skill as they show the different dances pertaining to every part of the country. This prestigious Buddhist pageant also boasts other types of entertainers such as stilt walkers who are decked in long pants. Some as young as six years often parade on stilts.

Silently treading barefoot are bhikkhus clad in saffron robes; they solemnly walk in the procession.

The pageant of elephants, dressed in their customary outfits add glamour to the parade, making it a fashion extravaganza with rainbow-coloured costumes revealing the hard work that had gone into making them look magnificent.

Dressed in white and carrying Buddhist flags are young participants gathered neatly in a queue, after the elephant bearing the sacred relic.

With the tranquil Beira Lake as the backdrop, the main tusker, a majestic and magnificent elephant with lovely and spectacular tusks, walks in all its glory, brilliantly decorated for the world to witness. This year the tusker wore a peacock-blue, delicately designed costume which glimmered in gold and silver.

The century-old small temple in the Beira Lake, which is called the Seema Malaka, is also part of the stunning background where the Navam Perahera takes place. The event was beamed live on the Buddhist satellite TV channel.Held on two consecutive nights, February 16 and 17, the performers in the Navam Perahera have put their hands together to make this grand pageant a success.