Destination - Kandy Esala Perahara

Kandy Esala Perahera, also known as the Kandy Festival of the Tooth, is a vibrant cultural event held annually in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is considered one of the most important and grandest religious processions in the country.

The festival takes place in July or August and lasts for ten consecutive nights, culminating in a spectacular grand finale. The main purpose of the event is to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is enshrined in the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) located in Kandy.

The Esala Perahera features a magnificent procession that includes beautifully adorned elephants, traditional dancers, drummers, fire performers, flag bearers, and various religious and cultural performances. The tusker carrying the replica of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the centerpiece of the procession, accompanied by other elephants decorated with elaborate costumes and ornaments.

Devotees and spectators from all over the world gather to witness this majestic event, which combines religious devotion, cultural heritage, and artistic expression. It is believed that participating or witnessing the Esala Perahera brings blessings and protection.

The festival also includes traditional rituals, such as the Kap Situveema (ritual of planting a sanctified young Jackfruit tree) and the water-cutting ceremony, where water from the Mahaweli River is used to purify the streets before the procession.