CultureTV's video: Real Majestic Tusker Kataragama Wasana Taking Part of the First Kumbal Perahera at Kandy - 2021

KANDY ESALA PERAHERA 2021 – THE FESTIVAL OF THE SACRED TOOTH ප්‍රථම කුඹල් පෙරහර 2021 - සධාතුක කරඬුව රැගත් මංගල හස්ති රාජයා වන කතරගම වාසනා හස්තීයා සඳගල මතට පා තැබීම 🙏 Perahera, the pageant which is held today, first started during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781 A.D.) who ruled the Kandyan Kingdom, Sri Lanka’s last kingdom. When the country was invaded and colonized by the British and the kingdom fell in 1835, upon the request of the venerate Buddhist Theros of the time, a ‘Diyawadana Nilame’ – an office of chief lay custodian of The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, was appointed to handle the administration of the sacred tooth relic. Schedule of Kandy Perahera 2021 Kandy perahera 2021 is scheduled to be held from 13th of August to the 23rd of August. Following are the dates in which the perahera festivities of 2021 Kandy Perahera will be held. Event Date 13th of August 2021 01st Kumbal Perahera 14th of August 2021 02nd Kumbal Perahera 15th of August 2021 03rd Kumbal Perahera 16th of August 2021 04th Kumbal Perahera 17th of August 2021 05th Kumbal Perahera 18th of August 2021 01st Randoli Perahera 19th of August 2021 02nd Randoli Perahera 20th of August 2021 03rd Randoli Perahera 21st of August 2021 04th Randoli Perahera 22nd of August 2021 05th Randoli Perahera – Final Maha Randoli Perahera 23rd of August 2021 Day Perahera Beginning of the perahera period is marked with the ceremony of planting ‘kap’, where a sanctified young jak plant sprinkled with cinnamon scented water is planted in the premises of each of the four ‘devales’ during an auspicious time given by the astrologers. During the next five nights ‘Devale Peraheras’ take place within the Devale premises, where the priest of each Devale carries the pole every evening along with the flag and canopy bearers to the beat of music and drumming. They also carry the ‘Ran Avudha’ (Gold Armaments), the sacred insignia of the Gods. Kumbal Perahera Procession starts with the 1st Kumbal Perahera on the 6th night and it continues for five days. The 1st Kumbal perahera is led by the ‘Maligawa Perahera’ and the ‘Basnayaka Nilame’. It is joined by the other four devale peraheras. The 2nd to 5th processions are respectively from Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini devales. Randoli Perahera After the 5 nights of Kumbal Peraheras, the Randoli Peraheras begin and continue for 5 nights. ‘Randoli’ refers to the palanquins on which the Queens of the ruling Kings traditionally travelled. During the days of the Kings, Kings and their chief Queens paraded in the procession. Later, the Queen was stopped from participating as it was considered improper. But, even now, a palanquin is taken as the last item of the procession as a honour to the Queen. Maha Randoli Perahera / Final Randoli Perahera ‘Maha Randoli Perahera’ or the ‘Final Randoli Perahera’, which takes place on the 5th night of Randoli Peraheras (10th night overall) is the last procession and attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is the most beautiful, spectacular and grand of all the peraheras taking place and marks the climax of the Esala Perahera, only perahera in the world which is held for ten days. During the Maha Randoli Perahera, the sacred tooth relic is carried on a well-trained tusker elephant and both the elephant and casket in which the tooth is laid are splendidly decorated. Diyawadana Nilame also joins the pageant adding novel glamour to it. Have you ever wondered how many elephants take part in the Kandy Perahera? Then we have an approximate answer for you – It is the only Perahera in the world which is held with the participation of more than fifty elephants and tuskers adorned with ceremonial costumes, hundreds of drummers, dancers and singers. Diya Kapeema On the next morning after the Maha Randoli Perahera, four processions from the four devales head towards the steppingstones of the Mahaveli River in Getambe near Peradeniya. before returning to the temple and the respective devales, marking the end of the annual Esala Perahera Festival in Sri Lanka. Best places to watch and the main route plan Hours before the Maha Randoli Perahera, almost all the road sides, balconies, roof tops, upstairs windows and even roofs are jam-packed with spectators, both local and foreign. Kandy Perahera starting time is normally after the sunset, at around 6.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. in the evening. Queens Hotel, Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya some of the best places for you to watch the Esala Perahera. The Day Perahera can be viewed from the D. S. Senanayake Street and the King Street. Normally, the procession goes on for about 4 – 5 hours, continuously.