Annual Navam Maha Perahera Today:

Elephants, culture and traditional dances on show

The two-day Navam Maha Perahera of the Gangarama Temple gets underway today (February 21). An annual event since 1979, the Perahera is conducted on the Navam full moon, which falls in February.

Established as a prestigious Buddhist cultural parade and identified by tourists as an exotic Sri Lankan festival, the Nawam Perahera is one of the looked forward to events organised by the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple, showcasing Sri Lankan culture and traditional dancing, in one of the most colorful pageants held in Sri Lanka.

One of the key characteristics of the Perahera that attracts people, both local and foreigners alike, to the Navam Perahera is the colorfully caparisoned elephants that participate in the procession with great grace and majesty. About 100 elephants take part in the Perahera every year. A major draw among the viewers is the Temple Tusker carrying the relic casket.

The Perahera is officially inaugurated when the relics are paraded in a casket and placed on the majestic tusker.

The dancers who add colour and vibrancy to the Perahera, represent three dancing styles from different regions in the country. Over 5000 artistes participate in the Perahera, which also includes wipe crackers, torch bearers and traditional drummers who add both vivacity and diversity to the pageant.Around 10,000 tourists and a large number of locals witness this vibrant pageant annually.