Kandy Esala Perahera

The Kandy Esala Perahera(theSri Dalada Peraharaprocession of Kandy) also known asThe Festival of the Toothis afestivalheld in July and August inKandy,Sri Lanka.This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to theSacred Tooth RelicofBuddhahoused at theSri Dalada MaligawainKandy.A unique symbol of Sri Lanka, the procession consists of traditional local dances such as fire dances and performances in whip-dance garments. The festival ends with the traditionalDiya-kepeemaritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at theMahaweli RiveratGetambe,Kandy.^[1]

Perahera Tuskers in front ofTemple of the Tooth

History

Esala Perehera festival, around 1885

The Esala is believed^[who?]to be a fusion of two separate but interconnected "Peraheras"(Processions) – TheEsalaandDalada.The Esala Perahera, which is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC, was a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when theSacred Tooth RelicofLord Buddhawas brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th century CE, eight hundred years after thepassing away of the Buddha.^{[citation needed]}

Modern Perahera

The modern Perahera dates back to the times of the Kingdom of Kandy period but the festival of taking the Tooth Relic in procession goes back more than 1,500 years.^[2]It was also through the efforts ofUpali Therathat the Kandy Esala Perahera came into being. This procession was originally focused on honouring Brahminical deities, particularly those incorporated intoSri Lankan Buddhism.Upali Thera believed this to be inappropriate in a Buddhist nation, and his influence led to the king declaring that "Henceforth gods and men are to follow the Buddha". After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Relic was handed over to theMaha Sangha(theBuddhist Clergy). In the absence of the king, a chief lay custodian called the "Diyawadana Nilame"was appointed to handle routine administrative matters concerning the relic and its care.^{[citation needed]}

The Procession

The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with theKap SituveemaorKappa,in which a sanctified youngjackfruit tree(Artocarpus integrifolia) is cut and planted on the premises of each of the fourDevalesdedicated to the four guardian godsNatha,Vishnu,Katharagamaand the goddessPattini.Traditionally it was meant to shower blessing on the King and the people.^{[citation needed]}

Dancers at the Esala Perahera

The Kumbal Perahera

For the next five nights, the "Devale Peraheras"take place within the premises of the four Devales with the priest of each Devale taking the pole every evening, accompanied by music and drumming, flag and canopy bearers, spearman and theRan Ayudha(gold Armaments), the sacred insignia of the Gods. On the sixth night, theKumbal Peraherabegins and continues on for five days. Initially, the Devale Peraheras assemble in front of theTemple of the Tooth,which isSri Lanka's most important Buddhist Shrine and where the Buddha'sSacred Tooth Relichas been kept since the 16th century, with their insignias placed on theransivige(a dome-like structure) accompanied by the Basnayake Nilames (the lay custodians of the Devales).

Ceremonial Tusker carrying the Sacred Casket

The relic casket, which is a replica of the Tooth Relic, is placed inside the ransivige affixed to the Maligawa Elephant, theMaligawa Peraherajoins the awaiting Devale Peraheras and leads the procession. Whip-crackers and fireball acrobats clear the path, followed by the Buddhist flag bearers. Then, riding on the first elephant is the official calledPeramuna Rala(Front Official). He is followed by Kandyan Drummers and Dancers who enthral the crowd and are themselves followed byelephantsand other groups of musicians, dancers and flag bearers. A group of singers dressed in white heralds the arrival of the Maligawa Tusker carrying theSacred Tooth Relic.TheDiyawadana Nilame(traditionally required to do everything in his power to ensure rain in the correct season) walks in traditional Kandyan-clothed splendour after the tusker. The second procession is from the Natha Devale, which faces the Sri Dalada Maligawa and is said to be the oldest building inKandy,dating back to the 14th century. The third is from the Vishnu Devale (Vishnubeing a Hindu god), also known as the Maha Devale. It is situated in front of the main gate of the Natha Devale.

The procession of Kataragama Devale

The fourth procession is from the Katharagama Devale (dedicated to the God ofKataragama deviyo,identified with the warrior godSkanda) which is on Kottugodalle Vidiya (a street inKandy). This procession includesKavadi,the peacock dance, in which the pilgrim dances carry semicircular wooden contraptions studded with peacock feathers on their shoulders. The fifth and final procession is from the Pattini Devale (Pattinibeing a goddess associated with the cure of infectious diseases and called upon in times of drought and famine), which is situated to the West of the Natha Devale. This is the only procession that haswomendances.

The following important times are announced by the firing of cannonballs, which can be heard all acrossKandy.

The commencement of the Devale Peraheras
The placing of the casket on the tusker back
The commencement of the Dalada Perahera
The completion of the Perahera

The Randoli Perahera

TheRandoli Peraherabegins after five nights of the Kumbal Perahera. Randoli refers to palanquins on which the Queens of the ruling Kings traditionally travelled. 2023 Kandy Esala Maha Perahera (Randoli Perahera) was held on 30 August 2023, the full moon poya day with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people.

Diya Kepeema and the Day Perahera

After a further five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the pageant ends with theDiya Kepeema,which is the water-cutting ceremony at theMahaweli RiveratGetambe,a town a few miles from Kandy. A Day Perahera is held to mark the ceremony.

Organization of the Perahera

Elephant at the Kandy Esala Perahera

The rituals connected with the Tooth Relic are conducted by Monks of the Malwatte Chapter and Asgiriya Chapters of theBuddhist clergyinSri Lanka.It is the duty of theDiyawadana Nilameto organize the Perahera and thus he summons a large number of officials of theTemple of the Toothand entrusts them with various ceremonial duties connected with the conducting of the Perahera. He first gets the auspicious time from theNekath Mohottala,the advisor onastrologicalmatters. The task of organising the different types of drummers is handed over to the four officials known as thePanikka Mura Baarakaruwo.The Maligawa officials also meet the owners of theelephantsdue to take part in the Perahera (most elephants are privately owned). The dance troupes are given time to prepare. The Basnayake Nilames (the lay custodians of the Devales) are then told to organise their processions.

Perahera Sandeshaya

PresidentWilliam Gopallawareceiving the sannasa.

On completion of the Perahera, theDiyawadana Nilamewould lead a procession consisting of the Nilames of Sathara Maha Devalas and the Nilames of rural devalas to thePresident's Pavilioncarrying a sannasa (formal letter) known as the Perahera Sandeshaya to thePresidentstating the successful completion of the annual Esala Perahera. The President would meet and receive the sannasa at the entrance to the President's Pavilion.

Notable Sacred Casket Bearer Tuskers

Noted tusker elephants who participated as the main casket bearer of the Kandy Esala perehera festival include:

Raja(රාජා හස්තියා)
Heiyantuduwa Raja(හෙයියන්තුඩුවේ රාජා)
Millangoda Raja(මිල්ලන්ගොඩ රාජා)
Nadungamuwa Raja(නැදුන්ගමුවේ රාජා)

References

^Kariyawasam, A. G. S. (1995).Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka.Buddhist Publication Society. p. 71.ISBN 9789552401268.
^Dhammika, Shravasti (2008).Sacred Island: A Buddhist Pilgrim's Guide to Sri Lanka.Buddhist Publication Society. p. 54.ISBN 978-955-24-0271-5.Retrieved20 September2023.

External links